By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

THREE men were arrested following a slew of burglaries and attempted burglaries in Moe and Newborough on Monday, February 16.

One of the men, a 23-year-old from Newborough, was revealed to have been charged with 30 offences.

In an overnight rampage, a total of 11 incidents terrified the community, spanning from 12.10am to 2pm.

It began when two offenders stole power tools from a utility vehicle parked outside a property on Alcott Drive, Newborough before one of the men left with a vehicle.

Five minutes later, at around 12.15am, an offender allegedly armed with a machete attempted to enter a property on Freeman Circuit.

The same man then stood up someone at a residence on Caspian Court just before 11am, allegedly slashing a fly screen window and then demanding money from the male victim, but left empty handed.

The offender then allegedly attempted to steal a vehicle on Hayes Road at 1.15am, setting off inside only for the car to halt in the middle of the street.

He allegedly pinched a bank card when leaving the car at the scene, and officers discovered a machete nearby upon their arrival.

Those incidents all took place at the Thompsons Rd, Newborough residential estate, which will eventually make up part of the developing Lake Narracan precinct.

Offenders then attended a property on Thompsons Rd, allegedly stealing a ride-on lawn mower and then unsuccessfully attempting to steal another vehicle.

The lawn mower was then driven through Moe, allegedly used to ram the door of a shed at the Moe Racing Club, in which tools and alcohol were looted from the business.

The racing club’s all-terrain Polaris was then allegedly stolen and used to flee the scene, after the lawn mower was dumped.

One offender then attended a property on Della Torre Rd, allegedly stealing a white Ford Laser.

Tools were also allegedly stolen from a shed.

The stolen Ford Laser was then seen at roughly 10.55am doing burnouts outside of a King Street property in Moe, in which the male occupant of the house and the driver were involved in an altercation.

The offender allegedly assaulted the man, before getting back in the vehicle and deliberately driving into a parked Holden Equinox before fleeing the scene.

Significant damage was sustained to the Holden however, the victim was not injured.

Police then located the Ford on Luke Ct a short while later, but the driver allegedly sped off.

The stolen vehicle was then involved in an alleged petrol drive-off at the Saviges Road Fast & Ezy service station, before being dumped on Giggs Ct.

One offender then allegedly stole an Izuzu truck from a worksite on Della Torre Rd and then attended the Westbury Fire Station situated on Old Sale Rd at around 12.15pm.

The man allegedly forced his way into the shed of the fire station, damaging the door and stealing items such as a chainsaw, a generator, a backpack, and two CFA radios.

Not only that, the brigade’s Forward Command Vehicle (FCV) was also damaged, making it unavailable on a Total Fire Ban Day the following day.

The vehicle had its windows smashed and the side cabinets on the tray-back were forced open.

Following the break-in, Westbury Fire Brigade was unable to use its FCV for an extended period of time, forced to pick up the pieces onwards from the surprise hit.

“As a small rural brigade, most money raised for equipment comes from members themselves, as we have no commercial business in our brigade area,” Westbury CFA Captain, David Gridley told the Express.

“It’s extremely disappointing that a community organisation that only helps the community is targeted.”

The wild events finally came to an end on Tuesday, February 17 when a citizen identified the stolen Izuzu truck outside of a property on King St at around 12.30am.

Police soon arrived to the residence, arresting the 23-year-old who was located inside.

That individual has been charged with;

  • Four counts of burglary;
  • Five counts of theft;
  • Two counts of theft from a motor vehicle;
  • Three counts of theft of a motor vehicle;
  • Attempted aggravated burglary;
  • Two counts of attempted theft of a motor vehicle;
  • Three counts of criminal damage;
  • Careless driving;
  • Improper use of a motor vehicle, and;
  • Unlawful assault.

The Newborough man was remanded to appear at Latrobe Magistrates’ Court on June 15.

A 32-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both from Moe, were then arrested following the alleged incidents.

Each were released and are expected to be charged on summons.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed these incidents, with footage or with information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an anonymous report at: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

 

ELSEWHERE, Detectives have arrested a 29-year-old Morwell man following a series of incidents recently.

As reported by the Express last week, the alleged was involved in a stabbing, attempted carjacking, and another altercation which injured a dog, all of which occurred over the course of half an hour on Wednesday, February 11.

The stabbing victim, a 39-year-old Morwell man, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

All three encounters took place less than two kilometres a part from one another.

The offender fled the scene after the final incident on Peter Street.

After an extensive search of the area, the man was discovered in the roof of a residential flat on Dell Circuit, Morwell the following day, on Thursday, February 12.

He was allegedly found to be armed with a knife, and assaulted multiple police officer whilst resisting arrest.

The officers sustained minor injuries and a taser was deployed to detain the offender before he was taken to hospital under police guard.

The Morwell man was remanded to appear at Latrobe Magistrates’ Court on May 6, after being charged with;

  • Intentionally causing serious injury;
  • Cause pain/suffering to animal – cruelty;
  • attempted carjacking;
  • attempted robbery;
  • attempted aggravated burglary;
  • criminal damage.