DETECTIVES from Taskforce Lunar have charged a man overnight following a number of arson attacks on tobacco stores and vehicles as well as the theft of vehicles.
A 20-year-old Endeavour Hills man was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with five counts of criminal damage by fire (two relating to buildings and three relating to vehicles), three counts of theft of motor vehicle and burglary.
One of those charges relates to the ram raid at the yet-to-be-opened tobacco and retail store on McBride Avenue in Wonthaggi on August 19 around 3am, and the subsequent arson on a previously stolen Mazda 3, which was used in the ram raid.
The offender was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 14.
“The estimated cost of the damage from these arson attacks is well and truly above a million dollars,” Detective Inspector Graham Banks, Taskforce Lunar stated.
“Since Taskforce Lunar was established last October, we have arrested almost 80 people involved in serious and violent offending linked to the illicit tobacco trade, and we will continue to do so.
“The reckless nature of these fires poses a significant risk to the life and property of innocent parties and that is completely unacceptable. While we have arrested a number of people already, we will relentlessly keep working our way up until we get all the way to the top of these organised crime groups.”
The other charges relate to a number of incidents, including:
• An arson at a tobacco store on High Street in Melton on 11 August. A previously stolen Audi rammed the store around 3.25am, before both were set alight.
• An arson at a tobacco store on Belair Avenue in Glenroy on 17 August, and an arson on a van at the same address around 4.45am that morning.
The three counts of theft of motor vehicle relate to the allegedly stolen Audi on August 11, the theft of a Volkswagen Tiguan on August 11 and theft of the Mazda 3 on August 19.
Nobody was inside any of the premises at the time, but the buildings sustained damage.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on illegal activity related to illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
