Manningham Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged two men after an alleged crime spree across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs on Thursday (Oct. 31).
It is alleged officers initially responded to reports of two suspicious vehicles travelling in convoy in the Wheelers Hill area.
The vehicles, a grey Ford Ranger utility and a white Holden Commodore utility, allegedly began driving erratically and were last seen travelling east on Ferntree Gully Rd about 9.30am.
Police spotted the Ford in Warrandyte and followed it to the Diamond Creek area about 12.20pm.
The Ford was later sighted by the Air Wing, where it was followed to a shopping centre on Doncaster Rd in Doncaster about 12.50pm.
It is alleged the man dumped the Ford in the car park and ran into the shopping centre where officers quickly located and arrested him.
Officers seized the Ford, along with a trailer allegedly carrying two stolen dirt bikes, a handgun, and a quantity of drugs.
A 31-year-old Hampton Park man was charged with multiple offences including burglary, theft, fail to stop on police direction, drive in a manner dangerous, theft of motor vehicle and prohibited person possess a firearm.
He was remanded in custody and will appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on November 26.
Detectives allege the Ford is linked to three separate burglaries in Glen Waverley, Wantirna, and Warrandyte South during Wednesday evening.
The Holden Commodore and its male driver were located by investigators in Diamond Creek on November 1 just before 12pm.
A 24-year-old Hampton Park man was charged with a range of offences including theft of motor vehicle, traffick methylamphetamine, burglary, theft, and disqualified driving.
He was remanded in custody and will appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on November 15.