A SINGLE fingerprint left on an envelope incriminated the man responsible for robbing $15,000 of equipment from the South West Institute of Technology.
Ben Jacob Kononen faced Magistrate Robert Young at the Bunbury Magistrates Court on July 30 faced with a string of robbery charges.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated burglary, a charge of breaching bail, four burglary charges and five stealing charges.
Kononen was on a suspended sentence for stealing a 60 inch flat screen television from the Collie Eagles Football Club on December 2 last year and frozen food and confectionary from the Anglicare Emergency Centre in Collie on August 27, September 5 and then again on September 15.
The court heard Kononen broke into SWIT a total of four times, on April 23, May 9, May 11 and May 20.
On each occasion, he smashed windows or found windows ajar to break into the buildings.
A total of $15,000 worth of equipment was taken over the four break-ins which included a television, a bar fridge, hair dressing scissors, 11 laptops and an envelope containing $30 cash.
It was ascertained he sold some laptops for $50 each and others for quantities of methamphetamine.
He also failed to appear at the Bunbury Magistrates Court on May 21.
He was arrested on June 3 after a fingerprint left on an envelope gave his identity away.
Magistrate Young took Kononen’s early pleas of guilty and his age into consideration when sentencing him and said the places he targeted to steal from play an important role in the community.
“You also committed one offence the day before attending court,” Magistrate Young said.
He was sentenced to an immediate 15 months in prison, back dated to April 14.
He will be eligible for parole in February 2016.
