Police say Melbourne trio stole cars, fitted them with tracking devices and re-stole them again

A trio of Melbourne men have been accused of running a sophisticated car theft syndicate which used tracking tags to steal and sell the same vehicles multiple times.

A trio of Melbourne men have been accused of running a cunning car-theft syndicate in which vehicles were stolen, fitted with hidden trackers, sold online and then stolen and sold again.

A major Victorian Police vehicle crime squad investigation has detailed the alleged suburban syndicate’s sophisticated rebirthing ring which operated across Melbourne.

Detectives from several agencies, including those investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime, on Wednesday raided homes at Caroline Springs, Meadow Heights and Narre Warren South.

Factories and Laverton North and Brooklyn were also raided by police.

They uncovered two Nissans allegedly stolen by the men, several false and homemade number plates, invalid VicRoads transfer papers, log books, steroids and cash.

Police arrested three men on Wednesday, accusing them of running a car-theft ring. Picture: Victorian Police

A stolen Nissan Pathfinder was recovered by police. Picture: Victoria Police

Vehicle Crime Squad detectives began investigating this syndicate in early May, probing whether the stolen vehicles had been sold on Facebook Marketplace to buyers across the north and northwestern suburbs.

Police have accused this syndicate of stealing a range of vehicles before placing hidden trackers – potentially Apple AirTags – on them before advertising the cars on Facebook.

The men are then alleged to have tracked those cars to the buyer’s homes before “re-stealing them in order to fraudulently sell them again”.

Police have also accused the syndicate of “selling stolen vehicles with cloned identifiers taken from online advertisements for legitimate vehicles.”

Detectives have so far uncovered 10 allegedly dodgy sales using 14 stolen cars.

Tracking tags such as AirTags were allegedly used to locate the vehicles. Picture: Supplied

A Caroline Springs man, 31, was hit with 39 charges including handling stolen goods, obtaining property by deception and theft of motor vehicle.

A 24-year-old Meadow Heights man was hit with 15 similar offences and a Narre Warren South man, 25, is facing eight charges.

The three men were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 12.

Detective Inspector Julie MacDonald of the Vehicle Crime Squad said those pushing for a fast sale “should be ringing alarm bells” with buyers.

“Yesterday’s arrests and seizures are a really satisfying result for Vehicle Crime Squad detectives and the investigation into the activities of this syndicate remains ongoing,” she said.

“For those in the market for a new vehicle, particularly if they are looking to buy one privately via online marketplaces, then we urge you to be wary of scams such as this.

“We know that with the cost of living that people are looking to get a great deal, but it’s important that the deal doesn’t result in people losing their hard earned money.”

The stolen vehicles are being forensically analysed with hopes of returning them to their rightful owners.

Originally published as Police say Melbourne trio stole cars, fitted them with tracking devices and re-stole them again