Wagga man stages fake car theft to make bogus insurance claim

Buggy paid a man to steal the car and dump it in the river, while he made a $14,000 insurance claim.

But the plan unravelled and led to 23-year-old Buggy, of Lloyd, being charged with publishing false/misleading material  to obtain advantage.

Buggy pleaded guilty to the charge at his first court appearance on May 27 and was on Monday’s Wagga Local Court list for sentencing.

But magistrate Erin Kennedy instead deferred sentencing to August 31 pending Community Corrections assessing Buggy’s suitability for an intensive correction order. 

According to police facts tendered to the court, Buggy bought the Falcon for $8990 in December, 2012, and took out a comprehensive insurance policy for $14,050, which covered finance owing on a previous vehicle that had been in an accident.

Three months later, Buggy landed a job as a car salesman.

One of the perks of the job was the use of car yard vehicles for private use – newer vehicles for around town and older ones for extended trips – so Buggy did not need his car.

In September, 2013, Buggy tried to sell the vehicle on Ebay, but the highest bid of $7000 was well below his reserve price of $9990.

Buggy then hatched a plan to stage a break and enter at his house, during which a “thief” would steal his car keys and drive off with his car, after which Buggy would make an insurance claim.

After one person knocked back being an accomplice, Buggy was introduced to a man and a woman who allegedly agreed to be involved.

On the night of September 29, Buggy parked his car in his driveway, left a side gate and kitchen window unlocked and went to bed.

A man to whom police allege Buggy paid $500 then entered the house, stole the car keys and a bottle of alcohol – to add authenticity to the theft – and drove away in the Falcon. According to police, this man drove the car to the Murrumbidgee River near Collingullie, put it in neutral, manipulated the accelerator with a stick, put the car in drive and then watched as it drove off an embankment into the river.

A tip off to CrimeStoppers a few days after Buggy lodged an insurance claim led to an investigation by police and the NRMA and Buggy eventually owned up to his offence in April this year.