Bomb squad called in
KNOX crime investigation detectives had to call in the bomb squad after locating a suspicious device in Ferntree Gully on the morning of 17 September.
Police were on the premises executing an unrelated search warrant when officers found the device in the garage of the Segarta Circuit home at about 5.45am.
The Bomb Response Unit attended the scene to make the device safe and cleared it from the premises before anyone needed to be evacuated.
A 26-year-old man was arrested in relation to the incident but has been released pending summons.
Excavator dug up
POLICE have recovered an excavator stolen from a Monbulk building site in July, arresting a Cranbourne man in relation to the theft.
Between Saturday 18 and Monday 20 July, the JCB excavator and trailer were stolen from a building site in Old Emerald Road in Monbulk.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said at the time that the excavator and trailer were worth $50,000.
Det Sgt Barrow told the Mail that on Wednesday, 16 September, police recovered the stolen items at a Ruffy Drive property in Cranbourne.
A 32-year-old Cranbourne man was charged with the theft and has been remanded in custody.
Construction site theft
POLICE are on the hunt for thieves who broke into a construction site in Monbulk earlier this month and made off with thousands of dollars’ worth of tools and equipment.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said that between 4pm on 11 September and 7am on 14 September, unknown persons entered a construction site on Macclesfield Road in Monbulk.
Det Sgt Barrow said the thieves broke into a site office by cutting a padlock off of the door.
He said numerous power tools, two fax machines, a camera and a Microsoft tablet computer were stolen from the site, with an estimated value of about $5000.
Det Sgt Barrow said the site was in a “reasonably isolated” area. A CCTV camera overlooking the site was damaged.
Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity, or who has more information, is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Back to jail
A CROYDON man has gone back to jail after being charged in relation to two house burglaries in Upwey
Between 9am and 12pm on Wednesday, 9 September, two houses in Roma Parade and Mahony Road in Upwey were broken into, with musical instruments and jewellery reported stolen.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said that detectives executed a search warrant on Thursday, 17 September in Lusher Road, Croydon, in relation to the burglaries and arrested a 53-year-old man.
Det Sgt Barrow said the man was charged in relation to both burglaries and was returned to prison for breaching his parole conditions.
Spare tyres theft
POLICE are searching for thieves that took off with spare tyres from a Lilydale car lot last week.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said that between 7pm on Wednesday, 16 September, and 7.15am the following day, unknown persons entered the Yarra Valley Toyota car lot on Maroondah Highway in Lilydale.
Det Sgt Barrow said the unknown persons stole three spare tyres off of the back of three Toyota Prado four-wheel-drives, valued at $1000 each.
“It would have taken some time to get the wheels off,” Det Sgt Barrow said.
He said police were hoping to speak to anyone who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour driving past overnight, or who saw any vehicles parked in the vicinity of the lot.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Smashed the limit
A COLDSTREAM man will face court after being caught travelling at more than 70km/h over the speed limit in Coldstream last week.
Police said the man was clocked riding a black Honda motorcycle at 131km/h in the 60km/h zone along Ingram Road in Coldstream on Wednesday, 16 September – before overtaking a truck on the Maroondah Highway.
He then overtook a car to the left and proceeded to overtake three more cars across double white lines.
The rider then split traffic at the Warburton Highway intersection in Lilydale and ran a red light where he crashed into a turning vehicle.
The rider fled the scene shortly after the collision, as he was riding an unregistered bike with a suspended driver’s licence.
The driver of the vehicle was not injured but the rider received injuries that required medical attention at hospital.
The rider will be charged on summons for numerous offences including evading police, dangerous speeding, and driving while suspended.
He will face court at a later date.
