Police have charged five men and two women following a series of aggravated burglaries across Maribyrnong, Kensington, Brighton, St Kilda West and Altona North.
Maribyrnong Crime Investigation Unit and Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives joined forces to investigate seven incidents that took place between 22 and 28 August.
• Two male offenders entered a property on Speakman Street in Kensington. They allegedly stole car keys and bank cards, which were used for fraudulent transactions across Melbourne.
• A Jeep Wrangler parked on Inkerman Street in St Kilda was allegedly broken into and with bank cards stolen and used in fraudulent transactions across Melbourne.
• It's alleged four offenders attended a property on Hillside Avenue in Maribyrnong, where car keys for a Mercedes Benz were stolen. They fled the scene in the vehicle, also stealing the victim's wallet, bank cards and horse racing equipment which were inside the car.
• It is alleged four offenders forced open a garage door on Woodruff Avenue in Maribyrnong and stole two sets of car keys. Two of the offenders fled the scene in a Kia Carnival, stolen from the address. The other two offenders fled the scene on foot and were arrested by police.
• It is alleged car keys, a laptop and bank cards were stolen from a property on Beaconsfield Parade in St Kilda West, before offenders used the keys and fled the scene in the stolen vehicle.
• Two offenders allegedly gained entry to a property on McCallum Street in Brighton before stealing a handbag, wallet, bank cards, laptop and two sets of car keys. The offenders used the keys to steal both cars, before allegedly using the bank cards in transactions across Melbourne.
• It is alleged two male offenders gained entry to a property on Millers Road in Altona North, where they stole multiple backpacks which contained bank cards. The cards were later used in a series of fraudulent transactions across Melbourne.
Two of the stolen vehicles were recovered by police.
A 24-year-old South Australian man has been charged with 24 offences, including aggravated burglary (x6), theft of motor vehicle, theft, obtaining property by deception and handling stolen goods. He was remanded and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 31, August 2022.
A 34-year-old South Australian man has been charged with 9 offences, including aggravated burglary (x3), theft of a motor vehicle (x4), theft and obtaining property by deception. He was remanded and will appear at Sunshine Magistrates' Court on 31, August 2022.
A 27-year-old Wodonga man has been charged with aggravated burglary (x2), theft of motor vehicle and theft. He was remanded and will appear at Sunshine Magistrates' Court on 16, September 2022.
A 25-year-old NSW man has been charged with aggravated burglary, theft, handling stolen goods, obtaining property by deception and possession of Methylamphetamine. He's been remanded to appear at Sunshine Magistrates' Court on 1, September 2022.
A 25-year-old South Australian man has been charged with making false document and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail. He's been bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates' Court on 20, September 2022.
A 25-year-old South Australian woman has been charged with aggravated burglary and theft of motor vehicle (x2). She was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 28, October 2022.
A 31-year-old Altona North woman has been charged with handling stolen goods, making false document, obtaining property by deception, and committing indictable offence whilst on bail. She's been bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates' Court on 10, November 2022.
