Taskforce investigates 27 arson attacks
In the past six months 27 Melbourne businesses have been destroyed by fire and 13 people arrested. Photo: AAP
A specialised Victoria Police taskforce is investigating 27 arson attacks on businesses across the state since March. It’s believed the fires are part of a gangland war over illegal profits.
March:
- Fire at tobacco store on Springvale Road where two offenders throw items through the window to set it alight.
May:
- Offender makes two separate attempts to force the shutter of a tobacco store in Young Street, Moonee Ponds. then throws an item into the store to set it alight.
June:
- Stolen vehicle reverses into Moonee Ponds tobacco store, with offenders then pouring fuel around the shop and setting it alight.
- Third attack on Young Street store involves offenders parking a stolen vehicle outside and setting it on fire, which also damages the premises.
- Offenders attack a Werribee tobacco store three times by smashing the window, pouring accelerant inside and setting it alight.
July:
- An axe is used to gain entry into a Deer Park tobacco store on Dumfries Street. Accelerant is then poured about and set alight, causing an explosion.
- A second store on Dumfries Street is torched, with accelerant poured into a newly-opened premises and set on fire.
- A metal roller door is smashed into at a Wodonga tobacco store and the premises lit up.
- Offenders smash the glass doors of a shop in Wangaratta, splash accelerant inside and set it alight.
August:
- Third incident on Dumfries Street with offenders targeting another store in the same location. Vehicle driven into shopfront and set alight.
- Fire deliberately lit at tobacco store in Hoppers Crossing.
- Smoke observed coming from a business in Burwood and emergency services locate a fire within.
- Car reversed into fruit store in Hadfield to force open door, with offender setting the store and himself on fire.
- Vehicle reversed into tobacco store on West Street, Hadfield, with accelerant sprayed throughout and premises set alight.
- Vehicle believed linked to West Street blaze found torched in Greenvale.
September:
- Fire lit at two adjacent stores on Station Street, Oakleigh, one of them a tobacco store.
- Vehicle believed linked to Craigieburn fire found alight in Beveridge.
- Fire deliberately lit at tobacco store in Whittlesea.
- Vehicle reversed into front of tobacco store on Station Street and premises set alight – same address previously targeted.
- Fire deliberately lit in yard behind tobacco store in Bentleigh.
- Fire at tobacco store in Derrimut.
October:
- Suspicious fire at a factory in Williamstown, with significant damage to property.
- Fire at tobacco store in Bentleigh, same store as in September.
- Fire at store in Glenroy, car used later found alight in Coburg.
Source: Victoria Police
–AAP
Topics: Victoria Police
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