Western Region Crime Squad detectives have recovered a $100,000 ski boat, several high-end vehicles and arrested five people as part of an investigation into a series of linked offending across western and eastern Victoria.
As part of the investigation detectives responded to reports an allegedly stolen ski boat was spotted in Ballarat near Lake Burrumbeet yesterday afternoon.
Officers were aware the boat had been stolen from the Yarrawonga Marina earlier in the day and had been following up several social media sightings when it was confirmed the boat, along with an allegedly stolen Toyota Hilux, was in Ballarat.
With assistance from the Air Wing, police on the ground responded and arrested four men and a woman at a Buniya Street property about 2.45pm.
A search of the property uncovered a significant quantity of allegedly stolen property believed related to a series of burglaries across multiple suburbs.
A quantity of alleged methylamphetamine and suspected cocaine was also seized.
A 26-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, both from Yabba North, received more than 30 and 20 charges respectively including:
• burglary
• theft, including theft of a boat, caravan, trailers
• theft of motor vehicle (x10)
• handle stolen goods
• possess proceeds of crime.
A 24-year-old man from Smythesdale was charged with:
• burglary
• theft
• theft of motor vehicle (x5)
• handle stolen goods.
A 27-year-old man from Bonshaw has been charged with:
• burglary
• theft
• theft of motor vehicle (x5)
• traffick cocaine
• traffick methylamphetamine
• handle stolen goods.
The quartet have all been remanded in custody to appear before Ballarat Magistrates' Court today.
A 21-year-old man from Delacombe has been released and is expected to be charged on summons in relation to several driving matters.
The investigation, which also includes the theft of up to ten high-end vehicles from Ballarat, Horsham, Shepparton, Wodonga, Cobram, Wangaratta, Deer Park and Yarrawonga, remains ongoing.
