LEONGATHA locals have expressed security concerns in small country towns after what has been reported as the third burglary in a month at the home of accused murderer Erin Patterson.
It follows a spate of so-far unsolved and damaging burglaries in the local area; at the Fish Creek footy club, in Meeniyan and also Foster where thieves have left a trail of destruction while stealing liquor, cigarettes and electrical goods.
This time, however, police have caught up with the people they say broke into Ms Patterson’s Leongatha home and, among other things, stole her distinctive-looking, red MG medium-sized SUV.
The pair, a woman, 23, and a man, 18, from the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham were arrested at 1am on Thursday, allegedly driving Ms Patterson’s stolen car.
Both are expected to be charged on summons to appear in court at a later date.
A person claiming to be a friend of Ms Patterson’s posted a message on social media last Wednesday, seeking help after Ms Patterson’s home had again been targeted by thieves.
“Need some help from the community,” the post read.
“We have had a friend's house broken into in Leongatha three times over the last month or so.”
The post claimed several items had been stolen including a car, televisions, and vacuum cleaners.
It included several images of one of the alleged offenders caught on CCTV.
Police have confirmed the arrest of two people in connection with the burglary and thefts.
Ms Patterson is presently on remand at the Dame Phyllis Frost Correctional Centre in Melbourne’s Deer Park after fronting the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 3, facing three charges of murder and five of attempted murder, most of them the result of a family lunch on Saturday, July 29 at which it has been alleged that Ms Patterson served a home-cooked dish of beef Wellington, laced with death cap mushrooms.
Ms Patterson has consistently maintained that she is innocent of any wrongdoing.
A committal hearing is listed for Friday, May 3, 2024. Ms Patterson has not applied for bail.
