Six men charged after alleged ringleader of alcohol theft syndicate arrested with 40 bottles in car

A syndicate accused of stealing more than $320,000 worth of booze has been dismantled, while its alleged ringleader was arrested with 40 bottles of alcohol in his car.

The alleged ringleader of a syndicate selling high-end alcohol stolen from bottle shops across Melbourne was arrested with 40 bottles of booze in his car.

Police have charged six people who allegedly nicked more than $320,000 worth of alcohol from various retailers which was then sold for profit.

Some of the six members would allegedly steal tens of thousands of dollars worth of alcohol while others waited in a parked vehicle outside.

Detectives say the high-end bottles were then sold illegally for profits.

Staff at Dan Murphy’s in Thomastown called officers after the syndicate allegedly targeted that Mahoneys Rd store about 7pm last Wednesday night.

Police swiftly arrested a 26-year-old Truganina man before he was charged with 68 offences, including the alleged theft of $76,000 worth of booze.

Other officers simultaneously pulled over a vehicle suspected of being used as a getaway car at Mulgrave.

Forty bottles of alcohol and two shopping baskets were stashed inside before the driver, 30, allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test of methamphetamine.

Traders across Melbourne continue to be targeted by alcohol thieves.

Those bottles were allegedly stolen from bottle shops in Rowville and Croydon.

Police allege he was one of the leaders of the crime syndicate.

He will be charged on summons with 23 offences, including the theft of nearly $20,000 worth of alcohol.

That man’s passengers were on board and were also taken into custody.

The alleged leader and recruiter of the syndicate, a 39-year-old man from Wollert, is accused of stealing more than $95,000 worth of grog and was hit with 22 charges.

He was remanded to face Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on December 4.

Two men from North Melbourne and Truganina have been hit with a combined 47 charges after allegedly stealing about $82,000 worth of alcohol between them.

They are both due to face court in February.

The syndicate allegedly robbed a Thomastown Dan Murphy’s last week. Picture: Aden Stokes

A Craigieburn man, 23, was arrested last Friday and accused of stealing $57,000 worth of goods and was bailed to face court in February next year.

Thefts from retail settings across Victoria increased a further 32 per cent over the past 12 months which is continuing to devastate small businesses.

Organised crime gangs remain firmly in the sights of authorities, who have launched several initiatives to dismantle syndicates stealing booze, groceries and cosmetics.

Those crooks are known to recruit vulnerable people, ordering them to conduct shoplifting sprees in exchange for cash or drugs.

The goods are then sold to dodgy and illegal retailers or advertised on Facebook Marketplace.