Two arrested after police raid Docklands apartment building
ALL 37 guns stolen in a brazen Thornbury robbery last week have been recovered after raids linked to a Middle Eastern syndicate. Six men have been arrested.
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ALL 37 guns stolen in a brazen Thornbury robbery last week have been recovered in police raids linked to a Middle Eastern crime syndicate.
Six men have been arrested, with two of those detained by members of the special operations group at Collins St in Docklands yesterday afternoon.
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The raids came after dozens of guns were stolen from O’Reilly’s Firearms on January 29.
Today two men appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court charged over the brazen thefts.
Adem Hammit, 18, and Ahmed Al Hamza, 20, said nothing during a brief filing hearing before magistrate Kate Hawkins.
Mr Hammit is charged with stealing 37 firearms worth $40,000 from the O’Reilly’s Gun Store in Thornbury, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and retaining stolen goods.
Mr Al Hamza is charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm as well as a retention of stolen goods charge.
Neither man applied for bail and both were remanded to reappear in May.
Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana this morning revealed the group of men were known to police.
“We’ve been monitoring this particular group day and night and an opportunity arose yesterday,” he said.
“We’re really relieved.”
Mr Fontana confirmed 38 handguns were stolen during the dramatic gun shop heist but one was dropped as the offenders fled.
“From our perspective it was a great result to get every single one of those guns back,” he said.
“We have recovered all 37 handguns yesterday.”
It’s understood some of the handguns were loaded and found in a number of bags and scattered throughout the Docklands apartment.
“Some of the guns had ammunition in them but most were empty,” Mr Fontana said.
“We’re talking about a whole variety of handguns, there was 37 individual handguns found.”
Police say some members of the Middle Eastern crime syndicate are related, including two brothers.
“We suspect they’re all part of a middle eastern crime group,” Mr Fontana said.
“Some of them would be born in Australia but they’re of Middle Eastern decent.
“Not all are family, but some are brothers.”
Did you witness the raids? Email news@heraldsun.com.au
One of those arrested, an 18-year-old from Chadstone, has been charged with armed robbery, theft of firearms, possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms and being a prohibited person in possession of firearms.
Also charged was a 20-year-old from Docklands who faces counts of theft of firearms, possessing a trafficable quantity of firearms, being a prohibited person in possession of firearms and handling stolen goods.
Both were remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Investigators from Crime Command and North-West Metro later executed warrants at Docklands, Craigieburn, Dallas, Wallan, Keilor Downs, Chadstone and Broadmeadows.
They arrested a Wallan man, 20, a Craigieburn man, 20, a Dallas man, 19, and a 25-year-old Craigieburn man were arrested.
They will be interviewed by police.
The investigation followed the High Street, Thornbury gunshop robbery.
Four armed men walked into the shop just after 11am and stole the guns.
During last night’s dramatic Docklands raid a white Audi SQ 5 hatchback was seized.
The late-model luxury car, which had damage to a rear wheel, was combed by forensic investigators before being towed away from the scene for tests.
With guns at the ready, officers from the Special Operations Group joined detectives from the Armed Crime Squad and anti-gang Echo Taskforce, surrounding the Collins St complex about 2.30pm.
No one was allowed to leave the tower for hours, and exiting drivers had their cars searched.
Large paper bags containing evidence were removed from the property.
Police guarded the building until 9pm, keeping Tom Thumb Lane locked down.
One witness said he saw a man being led away by police.
Another told Channel 7: “I just saw probably half-a-dozen or so heavily armed policemen walking into the building.”
Police said the investigation remained ongoing and anyone with any information is could Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au