Arrests after $1m stolen car rebirthing ring dismantled in Springvale and Bangholme
An elderly Melbourne man is in custody after a tip-off that he was allegedly sending a collection of stolen vehicles to the Middle East.
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An 83-year-old Melbourne man is among two men arrested over a $1m car rebirthing syndicate after several luxury vehicles were intercepted en route to the Middle East.
Police were initially tipped off by border force after a shipping container bound for the United Arab Emirates was found to be holding four stolen vehicles.
Three more stolen cars were then located at the business who had organised the shipping containers before all seven cars were seized by Victorian police.
The 12-month interrogation led detectives from six police agencies to a warehouse in Springvale and a semirural property in Bangholme where two search warrants were conducted.
Almost $1m worth of stolen goods were seized from the suburban properties which includes several vehicles, guns, drugs and cash.
Among the vehicles towed away were a 2023 Nissan Navara, a Hino tow truck, a rare Holden VFSS Senator, a Toyota HiLux, Volkswagen Golf, Audi RS3, Subaru WRX and a forklift.
The stolen vehicles will be forensically examined with hopes of returning the cars to their owners.
Methamphetamine and about $10,000 in cash was also wiped from the Springvale warehouse.
A 34-year-old Springvale man has been charged with 17 offences of handling stolen goods and deception and was bailed to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in March.
Three longarm firearms and an allegedly stolen Volkswagen engine was seized from Bangholme, near Patterson Lakes on Wednesday.
The 83-year-old Bangholme man will be charged on summons with firearms offences.
Detective Senior Sergeant Jarrod Turner from the Vehicle Crime Squad said it was a huge win.
“This result is extremely satisfying and testament to the tenacity of the Vehicle Crime Squad, with investigators working extremely hard over the past 12 months to not only recover these vehicles but put an end to any further thefts,” he said.
“Stolen and rebirthed vehicles are also often used in the commission of other serious offences as there can be a misconception that offenders are able to move around more easily and without detection. This is not true.”
The police investigation remains ongoing.
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