Detectives from the Vehicle Crime Squad have arrested three people and seized multiple allegedly stolen and rebirthed vehicles as part of a joint operation with the Queensland Major Organised Crime Squad.
Investigators executed search warrants at a business in Paul Court, Dandenong and a residential address is Bangholme Road, Bangholme on 21 April.
Two men and a woman were arrested during the operation and multiple items seized including:
• 8 stolen motor vehicles being
o Three VW Tiguans,
o Two Ford Rangers,
o Two BMWs, and
o A Mitsubishi ASX
• A suspected stolen Harley Davidson motorcycle,
• Vehicle logbooks,
• Various stolen and cloned registration plates, and
• A quantity of drugs.
As serious criminal offences were identified pursuant to the Secondhand Dealers Act, an Interim Closure Notice was issued by the Vehicle Crime Squad, closing down the business at Paul Court, Dandenong.
A 41-year-old Dandenong man was charged with committing indictable offences on bail, drug, theft and fraud offences relating to 11 motor vehicles valued at approximately $600,000.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 22 April and was further remanded until 14 July.
A 30-year-old Dandenong woman has been charged with drug, theft and fraud offences relating to nine motor vehicles.
She was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 26 April.
A 65-year-old man from Bangholme was arrested and released pending further enquiries.
Detectives from the Queensland Major Organised Crime Squad have previously charged and remanded a 40-year-old Sunny Bank Hills man and a 44-year-old South Maclean man with motor vehicle theft and fraud offences relating to more than twenty vehicles.
A total of 31 stolen or rebirthed vehicles have been recovered and seized as a part of the Victorian and Queensland joint investigation with an approximate total value of 1.25 million dollars.
The investigation 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.au
