Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad have today arrested a man as part of their investigation into a series of reported incidents involving sexual assault, abduction and stalking in the Dandenong Ranges area dating back over 20 years.
A 71-year-old Drouin man was arrested just after 8am this morning in Abbotsford and is currently assisting with enquiries.
Detectives will interview him in relation to two incidents, both of which occurred in 1998.
The first incident occurred on 24 September where a female was hitch-hiking along the Belgrave-Gembrook Road in Belgrave when she was picked up by a male in a vehicle who offered to give her a left.
She was subsequently taken to a remote area, threatened with a firearm and sexually assaulted before being dropped in Emerald.
On 1 December, a female was hitch-hiking along Wellington Road in Clematis when she was picked up by a man who also threatened her with a firearm and drove her to a remote area.
He sexually assaulted her before driving her to Belgrave railway station.
Detectives are looking at any links between these matters and a number of alleged incidents involving sexual assault, abduction and stalking in the Dandenong Ranges area between 1996 and 2000.
The incidents involve a male in a vehicle approaching a female in an isolated area with limited public transport, offering to drive them, and once they are in the vehicle physically threatening them with a weapon before sexually assaulting them.
All victims were females aged between 15 and 22 years of age.
These incidents occurred in and around the Belgrave railway station, Wellington Road in Clematis, Belgrave-Gembrook Road in Belgrave, Selby and Menzies Creek.
Investigators believe a number of different vehicles were used by the male in the incidents, including a maroon Toyota 4Runner 4WD.
Detectives believe there may be people with further information about these or similar incidents, particularly women who were hitch-hiking in the area around that time.
They are keen to speak to anyone who hitch-hiked in the Dandenong Ranges between 1996 and 2000, including those who did so without incident, as they still may have valuable information to provide to police.
Investigators also acknowledge that it is possible there are people who were assaulted in similar circumstances and have not yet reported it to police.
Detectives are keen to speak to those people and encourage them to come forward.
This includes females who may have been approached by a man in a vehicle in the Dandenong Ranges area and offered a ride or enticed to get into a vehicle, or anyone who accepted a ride and was threatened with a weapon or sexually assaulted.
The investigation into these matters remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Juliann Goldrick, Sexual Crimes Squad:
"Today's arrest highlights our commitment to the sexual safety of the community and to holding those responsible for this type of offending to account.
"These incidents have been subjected to lengthy investigations over the past 25 years and today's result is testament to the persistence and dedication of Sexual Crime Squad detectives, both past and present.
No matter the length of time, we will continue to investigate these significant offences and try to find answers for victims of sexual assault."
