Alleged fuel station thief denied bail

A worker at a Bunbury fuel station was left “distressed” after being forced to activate a duress alarm when a man allegedly walked behind the counter and stole money on Monday.

Police allege Paul Ross Rogers, 36, of no fixed address, walked into the Shell Coles Express service station on Forrest Avenue about 4.20pm.

Mr Rogers allegedly walked behind the counter and opened a locked box before leaving the station with $300.

Police responded to the alarm and arrested Mr Rogers a short time later.

Mr Rogers appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Tuesday and begged to be released on bail.

But police prosecutor Sgt Karl Rep responded that Mr Rogers was already on bail for a number of offences and his criminal history was “comprehensive”.

Sgt Rep said Mr Rogers’ latest alleged crimes were an “escalation” of his offending and if bail was granted, he would re-offend.

He said Monday’s incident involved people being threatened and that Mr Rogers’ “menacing” behaviour had left a worker distressed.

He also said Mr Rogers’ bail address was his mother’s home where he was not welcome.

Mr Rogers yelled out in court saying that was “not true at all”.

Sgt Rep said Mr Rogers was facing seven conditional release order breaches and stealing, fraud and threats to injure charges over separate incidents.

Mr Rogers is facing one count each of burglary and commit and stealing by opening a locked box.

Magistrate Evan Shackleton refused bail due to the seriousness of the allegations. The matter was remanded to today.