Outer east crime: Arrests following alleged burglaries, thefts in Maroondah and Knox

Five people have been arrested after two alleged crime sprees across Melbourne outer eastern suburbs were busted by police.

Three people have been arrested in relation to a string of alleged thefts and burglaries in five Maroondah suburbs. File picture.

Police have swooped on five people after a string of alleged thefts and burglaries across the eastern suburbs.

Maroondah detective Acting Sergeant Ryan Davis said officers arrested three people in connection to 15 incidents in Ringwood North, Croydon Hills, Croydon North and Croydon.

They included a 40-year-old Reservoir man shortly after an alleged burglary on Heathmont Rd, Heathmont on June 30, and a co-accused, a 42-year-old South Yarra man, who was found inside an allegedly stolen car at Heathmont railway station nearby.

Acting Sgt Davis said a large amount of allegedly stolen property was inside the car, and also at a home in Branch Rd, Bayswater North, when officers arrested another co-accused, a 29-year-old woman, on July 12.

The Reservoir man was remanded in custody on 28 charges, while the South Yarra man and Bayswater woman were charged and bailed to face Ringwood Magistrates’ Court later this year.

Meanwhile, two days later, officers arrested a 25-year-old man at a home on Mountain Highway, Bayswater as part of a separate investigation.

A search of the home found allegedly stolen multimedia items, IDs and fishing equipment among other items.

Acting Sgt Davis said officers also spotted a man riding past on a bike and recognised him as an alleged offender.

The 30-year-old Bayswater North man was later arrested outside a home in Walheim Rd, Bayswater, as he tried to get inside.

He was charged with 23 offences related to burglary, thefts and deceptions, and remanded to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on July 19.

Acting Sgt Davis said the alleged offenders were “targeting vehicles and premises that they deemed to be weak targets, and this caused a significant spike in property related offences in the Maroondah police service area,” he said.

He urged locals to not leave valuables in cars, ensure they were locked and parked in well-lit areas, and to contact police if they saw suspicious people loitering around their own or their neighbours’ homes.

Residents can also make anonymous reports to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or by visiting crimestoppersvic.com.au.