Multiple arrests made as police in Monash crack down on burglary

Operation Jeter was established to target a number of residential and commercial burglaries and theft from motor vehicle offences across the Monash area in August, which police allege are connected.

The residential burglaries predominantly occurred during daylight hours at unoccupied homes in Mt Waverley, Chadstone, Notting Hill, Glen Waverley and Mulgrave, while two commercial burglaries were also carried out during the evening in business parks in Oakleigh East and Notting Hill.

Police arrested a 38-year-old Mt Waverley man on Tuesday 1 September as part of Operation Jeter who was subsequently charged with ten counts of burglary and theft from motor vehicle offences. He was remanded in custody to reappear at the Moorabbin Magistrates Court on 6 October 2020.

Another Monash Crime Investigation Unit investigation, Operation Clutter, commenced in August after the burglary and theft of property, including multiple firearms from a deceased estate in Mulgrave.

The operation culminated on Friday 4 September with three search warrants executed at Mulgrave addresses.

Three males from Mulgrave were arrested in connection with the burglary, including a 21-year-old who was charged with burglary and will front Ringwood Magistrates Court in December 2020.

A 16-year-old and 17-year-old were also charged with burglary offences and will appear at a children’s court at a later date.

The majority of the stolen items, including the firearms, have been recovered with investigations ongoing into the location of the remaining items.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Russell said there were more police than ever before in the Monash area to not only detect and prevent crimes such as these from occurring, but to also hold offenders to account.

“We have increased proactive patrols of identified crime hotspots courtesy of an increase in police resources in the Monash area, which should provide reassurance to the community that there will be a visible presence on local streets, deterring offenders from committing these crimes.”

“Our message to those committing these offences is clear – police will find you; we will hold you to account and we will ensure you cannot continue committing these offences.”

“While we are doing everything we can to detect and arrest offenders, it is also imperative that home and business owners secure their properties, by locking doors and windows, securing garages, and displaying security features such as CCTV and alarms which may deter potential burglars.”

/Public Release. View in full here.