Melbourne north and northwest crime: Cannabis, steroids and cash seized in police raids
Four people have been arrested and $150,000 cash seized in raids across the northwest, while police are hunting for a man who performed a lewd act in front of a woman in Bundoora. See what crimes are making news in Melbourne’s north and northwest.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cannabis, steroids and $150,000 cash have been seized after police raids across Melbourne’s northwest and Wodonga in rural Victoria.
Officers arrested four people after searching properties in Essendon Fields, Flemington, Footscray, Airport West, Epping, Mernda and Wodonga on January 23.
Police seized cannabis, steroids, drug precursors and $150,000 cash, while a clandestine drug laboratory was uncovered in Wodonga.
A 29-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, both from Flemington, have been charged with drug possession and possessing the proceeds of crime.
They have been bailed to appear in Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court next month.
A Flemington man, 28, and a Wodonga man, 27, were also arrested and are expected to be charged on summons.
BUNDOORA
Police are searching for a man who sexually harassed a woman after allegedly following her from Latrobe University in Bundoora. The offender was alleged to have performed a lewd act as he followed his victim for up to 300m after she left the university about 3pm on November 26. He stopped the victim and performed the act in front of her at the corner of Sanctuary Drive and Forest View before fleeing north along Sanctuary Drive. Police want to speak to a man about 160cm tall with a slight to medium build, dark eyes and dark hair. He is aged between 20-30 years old, was clean shaven and wore blue jeans, a dark T-shirt, a dark coloured jacket and black Nike shoes.
TULLAMARINE
The Australian Federal Police conducted a high-visibility operation at Melbourne Airport on January 27. The AFP Melbourne Canine Unit and Melbourne Airport Uniform Operations Teams, consisting of more than 10 officers and four police detector dogs, stepped up patrols across all terminals and public facilities during the busy travel period. AFP Airport Police Commander Stephen Reeves-Williams said the operation aimed to provide a greater level of security for passengers at Melbourne Airport and was not a response to any new or imminent threat. The operation was the first in a series of ongoing targeted operations for the AFP at Melbourne Airport in 2020.
NORTH WEST
A Victoria Police officer has been charged with one count of unauthorised disclosure of police information. The Senior Constable from the North West Metro Region was charged following an investigation by Professional Standards Command. The suspended officer has been summoned to appear at a magistrates’ court at a later date.
ALTONA NORTH
Detectives are investigating after crooks stole two cars during an aggravated burglary in Altona North on January 29. Police were told a group gained entry to the Clematis Ave property between 3.30am and 5am. Senior Constable Alistair Parsons said they stole two sets of keys before fleeing with a blue 2006 Mercedes ML350, registration UGD 628, and a silver 2004 Volkswagen Golf, registration SUA 838. A 50-year-old woman and 51-year-old man, both from Altona North, and a 56-year-old man from Queensland were asleep at the time of the burglary and were unharmed.
COBURG
A man has been taken to hospital after a suspicious fire engulfed a Coburg unit on January 28. Firefighters were called to the Victoria St property about 5.45am after reports of windows breaking. Wearing breathing apparatus for protection from the smoke, firefighters entered the building to ensure there was no one inside. They found the fire on a staircase on the top floor of the unit. The fire was deemed under control in 30 minutes. A man was treated by paramedics for suspected smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital. Fire crews believe the fire may have started under suspicious circumstances. Police are investigating.
TULLAMARINE
A community advice message was issued for smoke after a house fire in Tullamarine on January 17. Firefighters were called to the Melrose Drive property just before 2am and arrived to find the single-storey brick house fully alight. Fears of a roof collapse led firefighters to conduct an external attack on the blaze to extinguish it. The fire was brought under control in 35 minutes and nobody was home at the time. The cause is yet to be determined.
MOONEE PONDS
Police are appealing for public assistance to help find Victor Houbron. Three warrants has been issued for the 37-year-old for failing to appear at court in relation to theft charges and breaching community corrections orders. He is described as about 175cm tall, with a medium build, short brown hair, an olive complexion and a large tattoo of a tiger on his upper right arm. He was last seen in Moonee Ponds. Investigators have released an image of Houbron.
MELTON
Armed crime squad detectives have charged a man over a series of armed robberies in Melton. In one incident, a man, alleged to be carrying a knife, walked into a licensed premises on High St and demanded cash about 11.40am on January 8. Staff handed over cash and the man fled. There were two similar armed robberies, allegedly committed at the same venue on May 29 last year and November 27, 2018. Police executed search warrants in Melton South and Yarraville on January 22 as part of their investigations. A 32-year-old Melton South man was arrested and charged with three counts of armed robbery.
MAIDSTONE
Almost 40 firefighters have tackled a blaze at a house in Maidstone on January 22. Firefighters arrived at the Mitchell St property just after 6.30pm and spotted black smoke coming out of the windows. A community advice message was issued for smoke and the fire was brought under control at 7.04pm.
FITZROY
Detectives are appealing for the public’s help following a robbery in Fitzroy last month.
Two 14-year-old boys were walking through Atherton Gardens at 8.15pm on December 7 when they were chased by four teenagers of African appearance. The four caught the two boys and stole a small amount of cash and a set of headphones from them before fleeing the scene. The first offender is described as 180cm tall and was wearing a green and grey zip-up top and Adidas track pants with white stripes down the side. The second offender was wearing a black zip-up jacket with yellow stripes and the words “Black Pyramid” on the sleeves, white and red Nike Air Max 95 shoes and red track pants. The third offender is described as short, with his hair bleached on top, wearing blue Nike shoes, black track pants and white hoodie underneath a Barcelona FC top. The fourth offender was wearing black track pants, black jumper with a white hoodie.
ESSENDON
Police are seeking public assistance to identify a man after an assault in Essendon on 29 December. The offender approached the victim who was seated at a bus stop on Mt Alexander Rd about 7pm. He repeatedly assaulted her before throwing her bag on to the road. He was last seen walking towards Moonee Ponds. The man is about 180cm tall with black curly hair and olive skin. He was wearing a grey hoodie with black tracksuit pants and sneakers.
MORE NORTHERN NEWS:
FIVE INJURED IN CRAIGIEBURN SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSE
COPS GIVE YOUNG EX-CRIMS THE TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
HUNDREDS NABBED IN LONG WEEKEND POLICE BLITZ
PASSENGERS BASH CABBIE AFTER NOT PAYING FARE
BRUNSWICK
A man was killed in a scissor-lift accident at a Brunswick work site. The victim suffered fatal injuries on January 26 at a site in Dawson St.