Cops were taken aback when they allegedly discovered women’s underwear packed to the ceiling inside the Melbourne house of a “pervert” who was charged with stealing more than 5000 articles of apparel.
Joshua Murrell, 34, of Reservoir, north of Melbourne, is currently imprisoned on suspicion of stealing underwear from clotheslines near his home for as long as five years.
He was detained on Monday, apparently after one of his victims, who had had her underwear regularly taken in the middle of the night, set up CCTV cameras to catch him.
When the police did locate Murrell, they discovered him sprawled out on his bedroom floor, which was covered head to toe in women’s underwear.
A replica gun, the sex doll dressed in stolen underwear, sex toys, and a cell phone with films of Murrell purportedly committing repulsive actions on it were all found by shocked detectives.
Murrell has been accused of ten offenses that occurred over the course of a year, including stalking, theft, using a firearm, and trespassing.
On Tuesday, he appeared via telephone from prison in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in the hopes of being granted bail to return to the community; however, this request was denied due to his suspected danger of reoffending.
The police are reportedly speaking with about a dozen terrified ladies who say their underwear was stolen from clotheslines near Murrell’s house, the court was informed.
The court heard that many of Murrell’s claimed victims are currently too afraid to go back home.
Police assert that Murrell, a single father, broke into the backyards of his several victims late at night to steal underwear, bras, and athletic clothing.
According to one woman, Murrell attempted to break into her house to take underwear that was drying on a clothes horse in the wash.
In testimony read in court, Detective Senior Constable Amanda Wright alleged that Murrell had been keeping damp items from the outside in addition to dirty underwear and bras taken from laundry hampers.
The court was informed that Murrell had previously been arrested after being caught steaking underwear from a Myer retail shop.
“I’m repulsed. After being apprehended, Murrell told police, “I have no defense.”
Murrell responded that the doll was “just a little pleasure to cuddle” when questioned about it.
Later this year, he will appear in court again.
Officers will continue to investigate the matter but wish to speak to anyone in the Reservoir area who may have had items of underwear or activewear stolen on 9479 6111.
Anyone with additional details is requested to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-333-TIPS (8477), or submit a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.