Gerald Lynch
Five more people have been arrested, including a Harkness man, and a metal scrap business has been shut down by police as part of an alleged organised crime syndicate.
Charges entail more than $780,000 worth of stolen copper, and a Reservoir scrap business was ordered to close after allegedly receiving more than $260,000 of the stolen goods.
The alleged business owner, a 58-year-old Cottles Bridge man, was charged with 10 counts of handling stolen goods, 10 counts of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, and two counts of possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
The five recent arrests include a 48-year-old Doreen man and a 35-year-old South Morang man, who were released and are expected to be charged on summons with theft.
Also among the recent arrests was a 41-year-old Harkness man who was charged on summons with theft and will appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 1.
The total number of arrests in the operation is now 11, with a 43-year-old Bundoora man and a 31-year-old Bundoora woman among the six people arrested back in June, when police executed warrants at a number of properties and seized about $95,000 worth of stolen copper.
The 11 are allegedly responsible for more than 50 large-scale copper thefts.
It is alleged they used portable power tools to cut through cables at telecommunications pits to steal large quantities of copper.
The thefts are reported to have caused significant damage to infrastructure as well as disruptions to internet and power services.
North West Metro Regional Crime Squad Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson said that copper theft is a poor idea on multiple fronts.
“Large-scale copper thefts affect us all as it damages critical infrastructure which in turn impacts telecommunication networks, public transport signalling and power supply,” he said.
Anyone with details can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
