A Mongrel Mob member pleading guilty to a spate of car thefts from Tauranga petrol stations has had his bail application denied.

Photo: file.

Sean Patrick Broderick appeared in Tauranga Registrar's Court on Monday charged with five counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, three counts of theft under $500 and one of shoplifting.

His lawyer Jason Owers entered guilty pleas to the nine charges of 'serious offending” before seeking bail for Broderick.

The bail application relates to a Whakamaru Christian Camp, in Tokoroa – a partnership between the Salvation Army and Mongrel Mob.

'It is designed for gang members who have rehabilitative needs which can be addressed that way,” says Jason.

'He [Broderick] has been instrumental in helping return three of the four vehicles. And should he be given bail and access to a telephone, he can make calls to locate the fourth vehicle.”

The charges relate to the four vehicles stolen during late-July to early-August while the owners were filling them with petrol at different Tauranga service stations.

The fifth vehicle theft relates to an incident in Whangarei.

On July 28 Broderick stole a Holden Commodore valued at $8000, and on July 31 a Ford Ranger valued at $35,000.

Then on August 1 he stole a Toyota Corolla valued at $10,000 and a Great Wall valued at $18,000.

The cars were taken from Pak'n Save fuel on Cameron Rd, Mobil on Chapel St, Mobil on Otumoetai Rd and BP Summit on Waihi Rd.

Broderick was identified from CCTV footage from the service stations.

On August 3 Broderick stole $164.24 petrol from BP Ngatai Rd and a backpack, headphones and a carabina totalling $650 from Smith City, Tauranga.

Judge David Cameron opposing the application describes Broderick's criminal history as 'appalling” and a term of imprisonment is likely.

He remanded Broderick in custody until sentencing on September 16.