Four people have been arrested and 36 stolen vehicles recovered following police investigations into an alleged organised car theft syndicate operating across Melbourne’s west.
Four people, including the alleged ringleader – a 26-year-old Riddells Creek man – a 43-year-old Diggers Rest woman, and a 28-year-old Bacchus Marsh man were arrested at a Sunbury address on March 31.
The alleged ringleader was charged with seven counts of motor vehicle theft, firearm possession, three counts of dangerous driving while being pursued, three counts of reckless conduct endangering life, and three counts of handling stolen goods and possessing ammunition.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear at the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
The Diggers Rest woman and Bacchus Marsh man were both charged with theft-related offences and drug possession, and were bailed to appear at court at a later date.
Police allege that the group stole a black Holden Commodore from a café in Caroline Springs on March 23, which was then tracked to a property on Greigs Road in Truganina on that same day – where four allegedly stolen vehicles were spotted by a police helicopter in a paddock at the back of the property.
The vehicles allegedly fled once noticing the helicopter and were tracked to areas in south-eastern and eastern suburbs where they were found unoccupied later that day.
Police believe the group is also linked to a property on Plumpton Road in Diggers Rest, where 30 allegedly stolen vehicles were recovered earlier this year – including a tow truck and a car carrier trailer.
The vehicles were allegedly stolen from suburbs across Victoria, and include several Holden Commodores, a Holden Special Vehicle Maloo valued at $200,000, a Toyota Landcruiser, and car carrier trailers.
Inside the seized vehicles, police also found several registration plates allegedly stolen from railway stations across the state.
The fourth person, a 29-year-old Ballarat man, was interviewed and released pending inquiries.
