November 29th 2024.
A man who was living on the streets has confessed to stealing four Olympic medals from a well-known rower's car, explaining that he was able to enter the vehicle because the lock was faulty. Drew Ginn, a highly successful rower, had his three gold medals and one silver medal taken from his Land Rover while it was parked in Melbourne's Docklands on September 6. The thief, 47-year-old Luke Tones, also took other items such as ear buds, a wallet, a camera, and a wetsuit from the car.
Surveillance footage captured Tones rummaging through the car's trunk, which was easily accessible due to the lock's malfunction. He was eventually caught on September 11 in Brunswick, thanks to a public appeal from both the police and Ginn. Tones appeared in court today, where he pleaded guilty to over 50 charges related to theft and breaking into vehicles. Among his crimes was using Ginn's bank cards to rent an e-scooter and spending $10 at a Hungry Jacks restaurant.
Ginn explained that he had left his medals in the car after giving a talk at a school earlier that day. He told ABC Radio, "They were hidden away in the car, but the car was completely ransacked, so a lot of things were broken and destroyed." The court was informed that this incident was just one of many break-ins and attempted break-ins that Tones had been involved in, including a burglary in St Kilda where he threatened to stab a victim who tried to apprehend him.
Tones' lawyer, Rachelle Gorbachinska, stated that he had been homeless for several years and was trying to overcome his drug addiction. "Mr. Tones has been very remorseful and was eager to appear in court today," she said. Ginn, who was part of the Australian rowing coxless four teams known as the "Oarsome Foursome," won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games and silver at the 2012 London Games. He also earned gold medals in pair events at the 2004 Athens Games and the 2008 Beijing Games. It was not disclosed in court whether the stolen medals had been recovered.
Tones will be sentenced at a later date. In the meantime, Ginn urges everyone to download the 9News app to stay informed about the latest news, sports, politics, and weather. The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play and sends notifications straight to your smartphone. It's a great way to stay connected and stay on top of breaking news.
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