Liam McNally
Police are appealing for public assistance following an alleged ram raid that resulted in $160,000 worth of car parts being stolen in Ravenhall.
It is understood three men, including one in a black ‘Squid Game’ mask, drove three separate cars to a business in Barretta Road just before 5am on Thursday, November 9.
Police were told one of the cars, a stolen Nissan Navara, drove through a steel gate and repeatedly rammed a roller door to gain access to the building.
Two of the men loaded three car engines into the back of a white Volkswagen Jetta and another unknown black vehicle.
The combined estimated value of the three engines is $160,000.
The men fled the scene in the two loaded up vehicles and left the Navara behind at the scene.
Detective senior constable Sean Armstrong said police appealed for public assistance.
“This offense was targeted, this wasn’t a random incident,” he said.
“The offenders knew what they were looking for and they went straight to that back room, and these engines are quite expensive.”
Motorlab owner Henry Eab said the engines were for specific vehicles, with two being for a Nissan Skyline GTR and one for a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
Motorlab specialises in high performance engines and one of the stolen engines was designed to create more than 1400 horsepower and was worth more than $100,000.
Mr Eab said he felt numb when he learnt of the break-in.
“There’s a lot of money that’s been dumped into [the engines] by the owners that have saved for years and years and, you know, collected parts over the years and pretty much just pumped their savings until now it’s just gone,” he said.
Investigators have released CCTV footage of the men they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries. The men were last seen wearing black clothing and one of the men was wearing a black ‘Squid Games’ mask.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
