Police have charged three men following investigations into a factory fire earlier this year in Derrimut.
A 33-year-old Craigieburn man, a 36-year-old Roxburgh park man and a 38-year-old Brunswick man were all charged with criminal damage by fire (arson) and theft of a motor vehicle.
The trio will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 19.
The charges follow a fire at a business about 5.35am on May 27.
Police allege the two men from Craigieburn and Roxburgh park were responsible for lighting the fire, while the third man from Brunswick directed the offences.
Detectives appealed for public information in relation to the fire, as well as a second earlier fire in Maribyrnong on April 6, which occurred outside a residential address on Scenic Drive shortly after 1.30am.
Footage showed two offenders dousing two vehicles in accelerant before setting them alight.
The residence was not damaged and the family inside the address was not physically injured.
Police have continued to treat the two fires as linked and believe they may be linked to further incidents.
Police are instigating approaches with relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators, and government authorities.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
