THREE people have been charged over a spate of thefts on myki machines in Melbourne’s north that have left a damage bill of more than $500,000.
Police arrested three people on Thursday, including a 37-year-old Heidelberg man, a 35-year-old Epping man and a 31-year-old Mernda woman.
The woman has been charged with a number of theft and criminal damage offences, and has been bailed to appear at the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on August 27.
Anthony Novelli, 35, from Epping, and 37-year-old Heidelberg man Andrew Carol were also charged with similar offences, and have both been remanded in custody to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
The three were arrested on Thursday morning following a police raid on a number of properties in the northern suburbs.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Julie-Anne Newman revealed machines at various metropolitan stations had been targeted over the past four months, with most of the thefts occurring in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Senior Constable Newman said the combined cost of the thefts and damage to the machines is believed to exceed $500,000.
Public Transport Victoria spokesman Adrian Darwent revealed to Fairfax Media in July that almost $1 million had been spent on repairing myki equipment since 2012.
