Darebin Council to seek $150,000 from alleged serial tree vandal

For more than three years authorities were stumped by a growing pile of vandalism-plagued trees in Melbourne's north. Now, with the list in the hundreds and a massive replacement bill, police think they have their suspect.

A man has been charged with multiple counts of property damage. Picture: generic

A suspected tree vandal will face court after a three-year police investigation into about 350 incidents of tree vandalism.

Darebin detectives charged a 51-year-old Thornbury man with multiple counts of criminal damage.

An investigation was launched by police in 2016 after Darebin Council were left stumped by a mounting pile of damage reports.

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Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie said the council had been recording the incidents since 2011, but in the past four years there had been an increase in the number of damaged trees in Northcote and Thornbury.

Darebin Mayor Susan Rennie said they believed one person had damaged about 350 trees.

The incidents were in an area bounded by St Georges Rd, Miller St and Merri Creek.

Cr Rennie said the council would be seeking $150,000 in costs for replacement of the trees, estimated to be more than $150,000.

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“We thank Victoria Police for their efforts in apprehending the alleged offender and look forward to seeing the outcome of the matter in the courts,” she said.

Darebin Detective Sergeant Paul Smith encouraged anyone who may have witnessed tree damage to submit a report through Crime Stoppers.

The man was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on January 24.