Police release images of cars wanted over spate of bikie shootings and fires

Police have raided more properties over Adelaide’s violent bikie feud, releasing images of vehicles linked to the shootings and fires — and reveal which bikie gangs are warring.

• Car yard raided in bikie investigation
• Police reveal which bikies and gangs are at war in Adelaide

Police have released images of cars they are hunting as they investigate a series of shootings and deliberately-lit fires in a tit-for-tat bikie feud.

Organised Crime detectives say the vehicles are linked with the violent incidents, which include shots fired at homes and cars torched in driveways.

They have now searched more than 80 properties in the crackdown, with more to come, and have arrested three more people on Friday.

In total, five fires and two shootings are all linked to a retaliatory feud between outlaw motorcycle gangs over a drug debt, police say.

They hope people may recognise the vehicles seen on CCTV.

Organised Crime Branch Detective Superintendent Mark Trenwith said investigations showed the Comanchero bikie club was clashing with the Mongols, which had become more active over the past few weeks since the arrest of several Hells Angels members over the 2012 shooting murder of Jason De Ieso.

Superintendent Mark Trenwith with suspicious cars linked to the violent bikie acts in the past few weeks in Adelaide. @theTiser pic.twitter.com/FyHFJJcyC3

— Dixie Sulda (@dixie_sulda) August 23, 2019

As recently as April, police said the Mongols were largely eliminated from SA, with a decrease in membership by 30 per cent in the past three years.

“It appears that a group of criminals have aligned themselves with the Comanchero Motorcycle Club, and that they are having a dispute with members of another gang, the Mongols,” he said.

“There are links with the Hells Angels that were arrested in relation to the de Ieso shooting — it appears those arrests have changed the landscape and created leadership vacuums in the underworld.

“That has no doubt triggered some of the activity we’re investigating at the moment.

“There are loose links between a lot of these gangs, we can’t rule anything in or our in terms of which gangs are involved.”

He told outlaw bikies to “expect a knock on the door, expect to be raided, expect to be questioned and expect the police to be in their face”.

The vehicles police want to find are linked to the following matters:

Food truck fire

About 3.30am on Thursday, August 8, a food van was deliberately set alight at a property on King St, Mile End. The vehicle seen on CCTV (left) at the food truck fire is similar to a silver BA Ford, possibly with a dark stripe along its side.

Left, the vehicle seen on CCTV at the food truck fire, and right, one it is similar to. Picture: SA Police

Shots fired in Ascot Park

About 8.15pm, on Monday, August 12, shots were fired at a house in Wood Street, Ascot Park. A car linked to the shooting is seen in CCTV, left, and is believed to be a white current-model Ford Focus, right.

The vehicle wanted over the shooting at Wood St, Ascot Park, left, seen on CCTV, similar to a Ford Focus hatch, right. Picture: SA Police

Hairdressing salon set alight

About 4.50am on Wednesday August, 14, a hairdresser’s on Clark Tce, Seaton was deliberately set alight. Murky CCTV images released by police show what they say is thought to be a station wagon of some kind.

The vehicle wanted over a deliberate fire at a hairdressing salon in Seaton. Picture: SA Police

INSIDE STORIES ON BIKIE GANGS:

How the Mongols were eliminated in SA

Kurdistan to Yatala: The downfall of the Nomads

Inside the brutal, lawless world of the Finks

Hells Angels: The world’s biggest gang of outlaws

Drive-by shooting at West Lakes

About 7.30am on Friday, August 16, shots were fired at a home on Classic Ct, West Lakes. Police believe the vehicle seen in CCTV footage, left, is likely to be a silver Holden Captiva station wagon, right.

The vehicle wanted over a shooting in West Lakes, left, is thought to be a silver Holden Captiva station wagon, right. Picture: SA Police

Car torched at Lockleys

About 4am on Tuesday, August 20, a car was deliberately set alight in the driveway of a property on Douglas St, Lockleys. A vehicle seen in CCTV is thought be similar to a light-coloured sedan with dark stripe running down the side.

CCTV footage showing a car wanted over a deliberate fire at Lockleys that destroyed a car. Picture: SA Police

Detective Superintendent Trenwith said police were continuing to actively investigate and target OMCG members and associates.

“Shooting at a house in the middle of the night is a cowardly act and someone could be hurt.” he said.

“We are following strong lines of inquiry and make no apology for targeting them and people doing business with them.

He said that more than 80 homes and business have been searched during the investigation, with more likely to take place in coming days.

On Wednesday, police raided car sales yards, defecting 34 vehicles as part of the investigation.

To date, two people have been arrested over drug production and trafficking allegations.

A 57-year-old Renown Park man was charged with trafficking methamphetamine while a 47-year-old Kilburn man was charged with cultivating cannabis and possessing prescribed equipment.

Both were granted bail and will appear in court at a later date.

A 42-year-old Virginia man was arrested for breaching a firearms prohibition order and 12 people have been reported for drugs. All three arrests were last week.

“Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 — and I remind callers they can remain anonymous,” he said.