Police have dismantled an organised crime syndicate allegedly involved in a series of commercial burglaries targeting crypto ATMs and collector cards across Melbourne’s north-west.
Detectives from the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad arrested four people over the past week as part of their investigation into the commercial burglaries.
It’s alleged the group were involved in stealing six cryptocurrency ATMs, as well as committing a series of burglaries at collector card stores in Epping, Moonee Ponds and Eumemmerring since mid-January.
The ATM’s were stolen from businesses in Hoppers Crossing, Bentleigh, Brunswick, Werribee and Vermont.
Detectives believe the group has been using stolen cars to commit their offending.
The investigation led police to uncovering an Aladdin’s cave of items, including approximately $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards.
Warrants were executed in Reservoir, Coburg North, Greensborough and South Morang, leading police to seize approximately $50,000 worth of collectable trading cards including Pokemon, Disney Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Dragon Ball Z, AFL and NBA; five alleged stolen firearms, about 100 alleged stolen car keys; ammunition; a pill press machine; and stolen power tools.
Police arrested a 32-year-old man from Epping and three Reservoir men aged 37, 33 and 46.
The 37-year-old Reservoir man was charged with 14 counts of burglary of commercial cryptocurrency ATM and commercial games stores, prohibited person possessing trafficable quantity of firearms, prohibited person possessing a firearm and handling stolen goods. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
The Epping man was charged with five commercial burglaries, three counts of theft of motor vehicle, theft, unlicenced driving, possess methamphetamine, drug of dependence and possessing a prohibited weapon. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 21.
The 33-year-old and 46-year-old Reservoir men were released pending further investigation.
North West Metro Regional Crime Squad Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson thanked the affected trading card community and the invaluable support from industry partners for their help in the investigation.
