Detectives from the Arson and Explosive Squad, Echo Taskforce and VIPER Taskforce are today joining together to announce an operation targeting disputing organised crime syndicates believed to be linked to a recent series of arson attacks across Melbourne.
The three squads will link up to investigate at least 11 incidents dating back to 24 June believed to be linked to ongoing disputes between two criminal groups with links to Middle Eastern Organised Crime entities.
Those incidents include:
• Two vehicles set alight in the driveway of a residential property on Anderson Road, Fawkner about 5.20am on 24 June;
• An incident just after 5.35am on 25 June where a vehicle pulled up outside a house on Greenvale Drive, Greenvale and one of the occupants of the car poured an accelerant over two cars in the driveway and attempted to set them on fire;
• An arson attack on a prestige vehicle business on Park Road, Oakleigh on 26 June that caused over $1M in damage. It's believed a man arrived at the business just before 3am in a grey Audi A4 wagon and set the business on fire before leaving the scene;
• An incident where offenders attempted to set a house with five people inside alight on Petros Street in Fraser Rise about 1.20am on 27 June. When an associate attempted to assist, his property on Hawksbury Green in Caroline Springs was set on fire. Both properties sustained significant damage;
• A car parked at Pipemakers Park on Van Ness Avenue in Maribyrnong had its windows smashed and was set alight about 7.40pm on 27 June;
• An incident on 29 June where a Collingwood business on Smith Street was set on fire and had its windows smashed. Police believe at least three people used hammers to break the front glass of the store about 3am that morning, before setting the property alight and fleeing in a silver SUV;
• A fire at a business address on Cooke Street in Port Melbourne on 7 July where police believe the property was broken into just before 2.50am and accelerant was poured throughout offices before being set alight;
• An incident on the Deer Park Bypass in Ravenhall about 11am on 7 July. Police have been told a collision occurred involving two vehicles, and two men from the cars were then involved in an altercation before driving off; and
• Two further fires at the property on Hawksbury Green in Caroline Springs on the nights of 9 and 10 July, where the occupants were not present due to previous fire damage.
On the majority of occasions, no one was present at the property when it was set on fire however almost all of the fires caused significant damage.
Luckily, no one was physically injured during the fires.
Police are today releasing CCTV from the business fire in Collingwood on 29 June which shows a man getting out of the silver SUV and setting the property alight.
The footage also shows two men breaking the glass shopfront before pouring accelerant all through the business.
One of the men also accidentally sets fire to himself before getting back in the car and leaving the scene.
Investigators are hoping someone recognises these men and can provide information about his identity.
Police are also releasing CCTV of a verbal altercation which took place outside the store on 22 June, which detectives believe may be linked to the ongoing disputes.
Two men are seen arguing with an unknown group, and police are keen to identify these two men.
Detectives are still working to determine the motive for the overall ongoing dispute and are speaking further to the residents and business owners of those addresses, as well as any associates, in order to try and understand the reason for the attacks.
Police are looking at whether any other incidents are linked to this series, however at this time they do not believe a number of recent fires at tobacco stores are connected.
Investigators from the Arson and Explosives Squad, Echo Taskforce and VIPER Taskforce will also work closely with local police including the North West Metro Region and Eastern Region Crime Squads, with a number of reassurance patrols underway in areas linked to the fires.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed any of these incidents or has further information about them and the parties involved.
Anyone with information or CCTV/dash-cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Chris Murray, Arson and Explosives Squad:
"It is only sheer luck that one of these fires hasn't resulted in the death or serious injury of someone, and it's clear they have been lit with very little regard for the safety anyone else in these areas at the time.
"A fire can very easily get out of control and effectively cost innocent parties either their lives or their livelihoods. It's behaviour that is utterly reckless and completely criminal.
"The use of arson by criminal groups to target and intimidate others has a significant impact on the whole community and won't be tolerated.
"We have significant investigative and forensic resources from the Arson and Explosives Squad supporting the investigation into these incidents, and we are doing everything we can to ensure those involved are held to account."
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Mick Daly, VIPER Taskforce:
"If these groups and the criminals linked to them wanted the attention of police, I can absolutely assure them they now have it.
"We have three specialist taskforces now working together to target those involved in these disputes and actively disrupt these criminal syndicates. We want to put a stop to these incidents and the danger they present to the broader community.
"We have a number of persons of interest and avenues of enquiry we are currently pursuing, however we know there will be people out there who know who is responsible for these incidents and the motive behind them.
"I'd ask people to very carefully consider whether this dispute is actually worth it - you now have the full focus of police and I can assure those involved we will be doing everything we can to ensure they are held to account for their reckless criminality."
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Ash Ryan, Echo Taskforce:
"We have seen previously where criminal syndicates such as this are involved in significant acts of violence, innocent members of the community are often caught in the cross-fire.
"It's certainly concerning to us when you look at the number of arson attacks and the potential for them to escalate into something further. There is no doubt that this causes significant fear amongst members of the public in the areas where these incidents occur.
"At this time we believe these matters are most likely connected to a dispute between Middle Eastern Organised Crime groups, so the intelligence specialist units such as Echo Taskforce can provide will hopefully assist in progressing this investigation.
"Police will be knocking on the doors of every single person we think could possibly be linked to these incidents and doing everything we can to put a stop to it. If you have information to provide, then now is the time to come forward."
