Knox Crime Investigation Unit detectives have arrested and charged a man following a spate of burglaries across the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
The burglaries, between October and December last year, were primarily at commercial premises in the eastern suburbs including, Bayswater, Monbulk, Wantirna, Knoxfield, Burwood, Upper Ferntree Gully, Forest Hill, Vermont, Mitcham, Kew, Hawthorn, Surrey Hills, Clayton, Notting Hill, Ashwood, Mount Waverley and Balwyn.
Detectives, with the assistance of the Dog Squad, executed two search warrants on New Years Day in Hayles Street and Rankin Road in Boronia where several items were seized including:
• Alleged stolen property including safes, cash registers and drawers, mobile phones and laptops – alleged to have been stolen during burglaries.
• Homemade and imitation firearms, firearm components and ammunition.
• Two allegedly stolen motorcycles and various quantities of alleged illicit drugs believed to be heroin, methylamphetamine and cannabis.
The 47-year-old Boronia man was interviewed by detectives and has been charged with 70 offences in relation to an alleged 23 separate burglaries. Charges include:
• burglary and attempted burglary
• theft
• theft of and attempted theft of motor vehicles
• criminal damage
• prohibited person possess firearm
• possess ammunition without a licence
• cultivate cannabis
• possess drug of dependence
• fail to stop on police direction, and
• unlicensed driving.
The man appeared before Ringwood Magistrates Court on Thursday 2 January where his bail application was adjourned to be heard on Friday 3 January.
