A Ballina thief has pleaded guilty to all four charges just days after his arrest.
The offences include two counts of breaking into a house and stealing property valued at up to $60,000, taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s permission, and possessing goods suspected of being stolen.
James Lee Irwin, 29, appeared by video link from custody before Judge K Crittenden at Ballina Local Court on Thursday.
Arrest followed weeks of public sightings
Irwin was arrested on Sunday after his whereabouts became a closely followed topic across Ballina.
Before the arrest, Ballina police confirmed directly to The Coast Report that officers were looking for him and urged people to report his location.
His name and image had appeared regularly in the Ballina Crime Reports Facebook group, where members shared claimed sightings, photographs and CCTV images.
Irwin will remain in custody and will appear by video link at Ballina Local Court for sentencing October 15.