By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
Stolen car
LATROBE detectives are investigating the theft of a 2004 Holden Commodore Adventra wagon that was stolen from Haunted Hills Road near the Yallourn Power Station in November 2023.
The stolen vehicle is sliver with distinctive black 20-inch wheels.
If you have seen this vehicle or have any information, please contact DSC Nathan GRIST at Latrobe CIU or Crimestoppers 1800 333 000.
Moe arson arrests
POLICE arrested five men with links to the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) on Friday, January 12, amid a series of arson attacks over the past month.
A tobacco store on Lloyd Street in Moe was targeted on Christmas Day last year (December 25). The Moe arson incident was among five other attacks across the state that police are investigating.
The joint investigation by the Echo, Lunar and VIPER taskforces and the Australian Federal Police understand the attacks are linked to the Finks OMCG.
With assistance from the Special Operations Group, a 41-year-old Werribee man, believed to be a patched member of the Finks OMCG, was arrested at a Werribee address. He was charged with seven counts of criminal damage by fire and has been remanded.
Investigators also arrested four other men, including:
A 30-year-old Templestowe man believed to be a patched member of the Finks OMCG. He was arrested at Templestowe and charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire (Arson). He was remanded into custody.
A 32-year-old Albion man also believed to be a patched member of the Finks OMCG, was arrested and charged with six counts of criminal damage by fire (Arson), and one count of aggravated carjacking and remanded into custody.
A 37-year-old Point Cook man was arrested at Point Cook and charged with five counts of criminal damage by fire (Arson) and remanded into custody.
A 17-year-old from Yarraville was arrested at Yarraville and interviewed for the offences of aggravated carjacking and two counts of criminal damage by fire (Arson), and was released pending further enquiries.
In all six of the incidents, offenders have forced entry to each of the premises before setting the properties alight.
Taskforce Lunar currently has 28 active arson investigations, which include tobacco stores, vehicles, gyms, restaurants and private addresses.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks of the Lunar Taskforce reassured the public.
“We know people are concerned given these stores are still being set alight, but what I would say is we do know the people who are involved, and we are actively targeting those syndicates,” he said.
“Those involved have a complete lack of regard for the harm they are inflicting on the community, and we think it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously hurt in these reckless incidents.
“While people’s lives remain at risk due to this heightened criminal activity, we will continue to target these organised crime syndicates and do everything we can to hold them accountable.”
At this time, Taskforce Lunar investigators believe the current situation is as a result of criminal syndicates in conflict due to competition for profit derived from the illicit tobacco market.
The current conflict includes both the physical placement of illicit tobacco into stores, as well as demands for stores to sell the syndicate’s illicit product and to pay a ‘tax’ per week to operate.
Police believe the syndicates are comprised of personnel from Middle Eastern Organised Crime groups and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, who are then engaging local networked youth, street gangs and other low-level criminal to carry out the offending.
Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who has information about these incidents and who is responsible to come forward.
Anyone with information about these incidents or with further information about illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
