Brazen thieves have been robbing car washes in the western suburbs.
Sergeant Andrew Button, of the Melton crime investigation unit, warned locals to keep an eye out for thieves targeting car washes, mainly in Melton, Caroline Springs, Gisborne and Werribee.
“We’ve noticed a series of break-ins at car washes where people are trying to steal loose change from coin tins,” Sergeant Button said. “We think the break-ins are related.”
Sergeant Button declined to comment on the nature of investigation but said police were pursuing a number of leads.
They believe the thieves are three men in their early 20s.
“They try to gain access to the [coin machines],” Sergeant Button said.
“They cause a lot of damage to the machines and to the coin mechanisms in the process.”
He said the spree started last month and the thieves had already broken into 10 car washes.
They had robbed some premises more than once.
“They’re mostly opportunistic crimes, happening at night or in the early hours of the morning,” Sergeant Button said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
