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Lilydale, Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark real estate targeted in house burglaries

Properties owners in Melbourne’s outer east should be wary as police investigate more than a dozen burglaries where crooks have raided houses for sale. Here are the three areas being targeted.

Police are investigating whether more than a dozen houses for sale have been target by crooks. Picture: Stewart Allen
Police are investigating whether more than a dozen houses for sale have been target by crooks. Picture: Stewart Allen

Houses up for sale in the Yarra Ranges are being targeted by crooks who could be using real estate websites to find vacant properties.

Yarra Ranges detectives are investigating 15 potentially related break-ins, mainly in Lilydale, Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark, that are on the market

Detective Sergeant Ross McDonald said police were investigating several burglaries where houses had been prepared for sale – some with staged furniture.

“These addresses appear to be targeted, whether it’s through a real estate website, checking vacant properties, or billboards,” Sgt McDonald said.

He said there had been 15 in the past two months and police were looking into whether they were all connected.

Sgt McDonald said crooks were stealing furniture, appliances and anything that wasn’t “nailed down”.

He said anyone who sees any suspicious behaviour around properties for sale during coronavirus lockdown should contact Yarra Ranges crime investigation unit or Crime Stoppers.

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laura.armitage@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/lilydale-chirnside-park-and-mooroolbark-real-estate-targeted-in-house-burglaries/news-story/bcbddeeb17379e4dd6ce56b874cc9d4e