Police say they’ve dismantled an organised car theft syndicate operating in parts of Wyndham and Melbourne’s west, in what’s described as an ‘extremely positive’ result for the community.
Detectives have arrested four people in Sunbury, including the alleged 26-year-old ringleader, while 36 stolen cars have been recovered.
It comes after the group allegedly stole a black Holden Commodore from a café in Caroline Springs on March 23, which was tracked to a Truganina property.
The police helicopter then allegedly found another four stolen vehicles in the paddock at the back of the property.
It’s then alleged the vehicles fled once noticing the Air Wing and were tracked to areas on the other side of Melbourne.
Investigators believe the group is also linked to a property on Plumpton Road in Diggers Rest, where 30 alleged stolen vehicles were recovered earlier this year, including a tow truck and a car carrier trailer.
The vehicles are alleged to have been stolen from suburbs across the state, including Albert Park, Brighton, Caroline Springs, Essendon and Werribee.
Some of the vehicles stolen include several Holden Commodores.
Four people including a 28-year-old Bacchus Marsh man and a 29-year-old Ballarat man were arrested, the Ballarat man was released without charge.
“This result is extremely positive for the community, with investigators from Melton working tirelessly over the last few weeks to not only recover these vehicles but to put an end to further thefts,” Melton Crime Investigation Unit, Detective Acting Sergeant David Bonnier said.
“The result also highlights our ongoing commitment to addressing the rise in car thefts which we know are of concern to both police and the community.
“We are absolutely committed to continue targeting those behind organised vehicle thefts and getting cars back into the hands of their rightful owners.”
