Three men have been charged over their alleged involvement in an alcohol theft syndicate where more than $130,000 in liquor was stolen across Greater Melbourne.
Police will allege the trio is responsible for 120 alleged thefts from liquor stores in several suburbs including Alphington, Armstrong Creek, Brighton, Bulleen, Bundoora, Chadstone, Colac, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Forrest Hill, Hawthorn, Malvern, Ocean Grove, Oakleigh, Prahran, Preston and Ringwood, between 22 January 2024 and 31 December 2024.
Following extensive enquiries, detectives from Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at a unit on Hoddle Street, Collingwood, just before 9.30am on Thursday 2 January.
During the search, police found clothing with labels and security tags attached that are believed to have been stolen.
Police also seized several identification cards which were in multiple names, as well as a quantity of cannabis.
The three men were arrested at the scene.
A 24-year-old man was charged with 80 counts of theft. He was remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court Friday 3 January, where he was bailed to reappear on Monday 6 January.
A 30-year-old man was charged with 38 counts of theft, one count of possess property suspected of being proceeds of crime, and one count of possess cannabis. He was remanded to appear at Collingwood Neighbourhood Justice Centre on 9 January.
A 53-year-old man was charged with one count of theft and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 20 March.
Investigators will allege in court the spirits were being on-sold.
