CASEY: Man on 98 charges
A man has been charged with 98 offences following an extensive investigation into thefts across Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs between November 2025 and February 2026.
Detectives from Casey Crime Investigation Unit and the Crime Reduction Team executed a search warrant at a property on Duce St in Cranbourne East about 8am on Wednesday (Feb. 25).
A man allegedly fled the property on foot, however he was located in the rear yard of a neighbouring property and taken into custody.
During the search of the property, officers located an allegedly stolen BMW, stolen power tools and small quantity of methylamphetamine and 1,4-Butanediol.
The 31-year-old man was charged with 98 offences including:
• burglary
• theft
• theft of motor vehicle
• theft from motor vehicle
• handle stolen goods
• obtain property by deception
• unlicensed driving
• commit indictable offence whilst on bail
• fail to answer bail
The man was presented to the Frankston Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded until March 5.
The charges relate to allegations of blackmail committed at a business in Brooklyn on January 19, when a demand was made for the victim to pay $663,000.
Operation Hawk was established in July 2024 to specifically target criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry and transitioned to Taskforce Hawk in June last year.
This was in response to a number of fresh allegations of serious and violent criminal behaviour.
Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing new intelligence and evidence relating to allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.
It also continues to proactively target organised crime associated with the sector, including a focus on any individuals employed within the construction industry who have known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Police are also instigating approaches with relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators and government authorities. The investigation remains ongoing.

