Five people have been arrested over an alleged theft at a construction site in Port Melbourne, where $70,000 worth of power tools were stolen.
It will be alleged a group of three people attended the site on Williamstown Road, at 11pm on Tuesday 9 July in a stolen Nissan X-Trail bearing stolen NSW number plates.
The group allegedly spent two-and-a-half hours inside the site, stealing power tools and electronic equipment worth almost $70,000.
Following enquiries, the Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit – with assistance from the Macedon Ranges, Stonnington and Wyndham Crime Investigation Units, as well as the Prahran Divisional Response Unit – executed four simultaneous search warrants in the northern and western suburbs from about 7am on Tuesday 10 September.
During a search of a Hoppers Crossing home, police recovered a large amount of power tools believed to have been stolen during the burglary in Port Melbourne, as well as CCTV from the worksite.
Police also located a quantity of methylamphetamine, clothing relevant to the investigation and several items of identification believed to have been stolen.
Further investigations have been launched into the discovery of additional allegedly stolen power tools and jewellery.
Meantime at a Williams Landing property, police located more clothing relevant to the investigation.
Five people were arrested:
• A 37-year-old from Wyndham Vale and a 45-year-old from Wyndham Vale – were arrested at a home on Morris Road, Hoppers Crossing. They were charged with burglary and theft and bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 29 November.
• A 40-year-old woman from Hoppers Crossing was also arrested at the Hoppers Crossing property for unrelated offences. She was released on intent to summons for trafficking a drug of dependence and deal with proceeds of crime.
• A 25-year-old man was arrested at his home on Rocket Road, Williams Landing. He was charged with burglary and theft, and was bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 29 November.
• A 38-year-old man from Hoppers Crossing was also arrested at the Hoppers Crossing property for unrelated matters. He was released on intent to summons for deal with proceeds of crime.
It will be alleged the stolen tools were advertised for sale on social media, with the majority of the tools already on sold.
