MOONEE VALLEY: Blackmail message sent
Moonee Valley Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged a man in relation to events at a property in Essendon.
Investigators arrested an 18-year-old in Cranbourne East as part of the ongoing investigation.
It is alleged a blackmail message was sent via a social media platform on September 23 followed by an ongoing series of extortion incidents related to the same address on Braemar St in Essendon over the last two months.
The 18-year-old was charged with blackmail and bailed to appear at Melbourne County Court on February 3.
An 18-year-old Coolaroo man and a 16-year-old boy from the Hume area were charged with arson after two cars were set alight at the Braemar St address on September 25.
They were also charged in relation to an arson at factory on Flight Drive, Tullamarine on September 28.
The 18-year-old was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 15.
The 16-year-old was remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
No one was physically injured during these incidents.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Rouse – Moonee Valley Crime Investigation Unit, said:
“The fact we’ve identified and caught these alleged offenders demonstrates the commitment of our investigators to target this type of syndicate crime.
“These ongoing investigations in relation to blackmail and arson are delivering results and we want to assure the community of our commitment to keeping everyone safe and preventing any further repeat offending which puts people’s lives in danger.”