NORTH-EAST: 5 charged after spate of burglaries
Alexandra Crime Investigation Unit and Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged five men following a series of burglaries, thefts and criminal damage incidents rom November15 and January 12.
It is alleged thousands of dollars of equipment and property were damaged and stolen.
The burglaries took place in Narbethong, Buxton, Marysville, Taggerty, Devils River, Rubicon, Kinglake and Maintongoon, Chirnside Park, Healesville, Woori Yallock, and Launching Place.
One theft of particular note was of a $20,000 generator at Mount Gordon which ensures that local radio can transmit emergency information during power outages.
This theft occurred just days before the fire in Longwood.
Alexandra and Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit detectives arrested five men between December 3 and February10 after executing several search warrants.
A 24-year-old Yellingbo man was charged with 35 offences including burglary, theft, handle stolen goods and traffick commercial quantity methylamphetamine.
He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 26.
Charged
A 35-year-old Seville man and a 32-year-old man from Launching Place were both charged with burglary, theft and drug offences in January and were remanded into custody.
A 37-year-old Narbethong man was charged with handle stolen goods, possess drug of dependence, and theft.
He was bailed to appear at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on April 30.
A 29-year-old Healesville man was charged with possess methylamphetamine, possess prohibited weapon, criminal damage, and theft.
He was bailed to appear at the Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on April 1.
Various items of property, estimated at approximately $250,000, have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners. The generator is one of the recovered items.
Detective Sergeant Flyn Loughlin said: “This is a good example of the results of information sharing amongst detectives at two local Crime Investigation Units being Alexandra and Yarra Ranges.
“The investigation remains ongoing with multiple items of property that remain outstanding.