This safe was stolen from a home in Canberra and apparently contained a large amount of cash and valuables. Photo: ACT Policing.
A drug debt allegedly led to a safe containing numerous valuables being stolen from a Canberra home in an incident that may be linked to gang-related violence, a court has heard.
In March 2025, a safe containing nearly $900,000-worth of gold bullion, coins and ammunition was apparently stolen from a home in Canberra, the ACT Magistrates Court previously heard.
The police investigation into the theft and its fallout resulted in three arrests, including 63-year-old alleged standover man Ray Younan and 38-year-old alleged drug dealer Benjamin Palmer Jones-Gerholt.
Younan was refused bail earlier this month, while Jones-Gerholt applied for bail on Monday (21 July).
The court heard Jones-Gerholt was allegedly pressuring a man, known to the safe’s owners, to repay the $9000 drug debt. This reportedly included assaulting the man.
Afterwards, the man allegedly went into the house where the 100 kg safe was kept and attempted to steal it, but was unable to do so alone so he contacted Jones-Gerholt.
It is alleged that he and a third person then worked together to steal the safe.
After the safe’s owners learned the man may have stolen it, they allegedly paid Younan $10,000 to help them recover their belongings as he was described as a professional mediator.
Younan allegedly went on to intimidate the man and spoke to Jones-Gerholt in an attempt to find the safe.
Jones-Gerholt was also alleged to be present when the man was beaten by a group of others at the Amaroo District Playing Fields on 23 March in another attempt to get information about the theft.
He allegedly dropped the man off at home after the beating.
Police raided Jones-Gerholt’s home on 8 May where they allegedly found 85 grams of cocaine, 65 grams of MDMA and 10 grams of methamphetamine.
“This is not an insignificant amount of substances,” the prosecutor said on Monday.
Police seized this substance while investigating the theft of the stolen safe. Photo: ACT Policing.
She said Younan allegedly referred to Jones-Gerholt during an intercepted phone call with a person called ‘Red’ in which they discussed the theft.
Younan also allegedly referred to a member of his family who was apparently the president of a Hells Angels chapter during this call.
In addition, a bail consideration form by police claimed Younan had connections to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The prosecutor, who opposed bail, said police allegations and the intercepted call raised concerns the alleged offending may have been committed “in the broader context of gang-related violence”.
Jones-Gerholt’s defence lawyer, Jan De Bruin of Legal Aid, said his client had strong ties to the ACT and would reside under house arrest conditions if granted bail.
Magistrate Jane Campbell said the allegations suggested Jones-Gerholt had been involved in intimidation, including by being willing to engage in violent behaviour to enforce a drug debt.
She had concerns about releasing him and refused bail.
Jones-Gerholt has indicated not guilty pleas to his single counts of burglary, assault and theft by joint commission, as well as to three counts of drug trafficking.
The matter was adjourned to 7 August.
The third man arrested over the allegations and is scheduled to face court again on the same date, while Younan, who also pleaded not guilty, returns to court on 29 September.
While the safe itself was located near Mawson Ponds in April, most of its contents have not been recovered.
ABL has been in free fall since MLB pulled out. Teams will move to places where people love baseball… View