General News
26 October, 2023
Police investigating several car break ins
Police are urging residents to ensure their vehicles are locked, after a series of thefts saw items taken from unlocked cars in Maryborough and Carisbrook this week. Police believe that on Sunday night and into Monday morning up to nine unlocked...
Police are urging residents to ensure their vehicles are locked, after a series of thefts saw items taken from unlocked cars in Maryborough and Carisbrook this week.
Police believe that on Sunday night and into Monday morning up to nine unlocked vehicles were broken into — seven of which were located in Maryborough.
It’s believed four or five youths targeted vehicles in Hosken and Chisholm streets, Whirrakee Drive and Bristol Court in Maryborough, while vehicles located in Urquhart and Green streets in Carisbrook were also broken into.
Central Goldfields Crime Investigation Unit Acting Detective Sergeant Steve Atkinson said the offenders were targeting items like petty cash or goods left in unlocked vehicles.
“We know the offenders have attended several addresses where they’ve had a look at what we believe were unlocked cars, looking for small change or property items within,” he said.
“It doesn’t appear that any cars that were locked have been targeted.
“It is petty stuff that’s being targeted, things like wallets left in cars, spare change or a remote control to a garage. A number plate was also stolen from a vehicle in Carisbrook.”
It follows a similar series of offending across Bendigo and Castlemaine earlier this month, where it’s alleged four teenage offenders, who have since been arrested, stole eight vehicles and broke into at least 17 unlocked cars.
Police have spoken to a number of witnesses and are currently reviewing security camera footage from the night in question and believe this most recent offending could be linked with thefts across the broader region.
“We know some offenders were disturbed during the offending, we have a description and the investigation has progressed to the point where we know it’s four to five youths that are involved,” Act Det Sgt Atkinson said.
“Investigators have linked the offending from Maryborough to incidents that have also occurred in Bendigo and we believe these could also be linked to the Werribee area.
“We did have an operation in Castlemaine last week after that area was subject to multiple incidents of theft from motor vehicles, and we believe that offending may be linked as well.”
Act Det Sgt Atkinson urged residents to ensure their vehicles are locked moving forward.
“Ensure that nothing is being stored in cars and that you’re keeping vehicles locked,” he said.
“These offenders are targeting unlocked vehicles and we know that if they do attend a motor vehicle and it’s locked, chances are they’ll move on.
“We have a good idea of who the offenders are, investigations are ongoing, but we are hoping to get a result in relation to arrests in the near future.
“This is a reminder to lock your cars.”
Anyone with information regarding the offending is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Maryborough Police Station on 5460-3300.