Mt Eliza crime: Canadian Bay Rd, Rannoch Ave, Rosserdale Crescent
The crooks are well and truly back to work on the Mornington Peninsula. And they’re finding easy pickings in an exclusive pocket.
South East
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‘Blow in’ crooks have hit trusting holiday makers in Mt Eliza, stealing wallets and keys from six cars in a two night spree.
All the items were stolen from unlocked cars parked near holiday homes in Canadian Bay Rd, Rannoch Ave and Rosserdale Crescent not far from the exclusive Ranelagh Club and Ranelagh Yacht Club.
The two day crime spree happened over the Australia Day long weekend and police believe the same crooks returned to steal a car on Tuesday night from Volitans Ave.
Mornington Peninsula Detective Sergeant Jason Hocking said the Nissan Ultima was recovered after being “pranged and dumped” in Berwick.
He said it was likely those responsible for all the crimes were from Berwick.
“Purchases were made across Berwick and at Chadstone using credit cards stolen from the unlocked cars,” he said.
“We have some good leads on the man and woman we believe are responsible.
“These aren’t crimes being committed by locals; they are being done by blow ins from the south eastern growth corridor.”
Sgt Hocking said the victims were also out-of-towners.
“Most were from inner city Melbourne; Toorak, Hawthorn. They were staying in holiday houses down here for the long weekend,” he said.
Thefts from unlocked cars has long been an issue for Mornington Peninsula police.
Despite a series of campaigns over the past ten years locals still fail to secure their cars and take valuables with them.
On Monday police took to social media to warn locals that the crooks were back in business.
“Now that the curfew has been lifted and everyone (literally everyone, judging by the traffic on Point Nepean Road and the Esplanade) is out and about again, we’ve seen a steady rise in those offences again,” the post reports.
“During the COVID-19 lockdown, we saw a fairly predictable decrease in property crime on the Mornington Peninsula, including thefts from vehicles and residential burglaries – seeing as everyone was home and the curfew made it harder for crooks to get around.”
