Crime wave hits

By Dion Teasdale
HEALESVILLE was struck by a crime wave over the Melbourne Cup long weekend, with nine commercial premises burgled.
Police believe one person is responsible for the crime spree and have labelled the offender as ‘nasty and opportunistic’.
The burglaries, which took place between Friday, 28 October and Tuesday, 1 November, involved the theft of money and goods, and the damaging of property.
Premises hit as part of the crime spree include five businesses along the Maroondah Highway and three commercial operations in Healesville’s industrial estate.
Sergeant Tony Van Gorp from Healesville police said he was disturbed by the number of robberies conducted in such a short space of time.
“This spate of burglaries is extremely concerning. Nine burglaries in one weekend is an unacceptable figure. We’ve got a nasty thief on our hands,” he said.
Sergeant Van Gorp said one of the most disturbing burglaries occurred at a motor inn on Maroondah Highway on Saturday, 29 October.
“The offender entered a motel room in town and stole a handbag while the couple staying in the room were asleep in the bed,” Sgt Van Gorp said.
“We are confident that it is an individual who has gone on a one man crime wave, and we are confident that our investigations will lead to an arrest.”
He said police suspect the offender might have been visiting Healesville for the long weekend, or may have recently returned or relocated to the area.
“It is also clear that the offender, who has targeted commercial premises such as shops and factories, was mainly looking for cash,” he said.
Detective Sergeant Marty Fleming from Lilydale CIU said police were investigating the theft of cash from Fox Valley Socks and Dell’s Hair and Beauty on Hunter Road, and from Gerry’s Auto Services on Railway Parade.
“The offender has made their way into the sock factory by climbing over an adjacent roof and has then forced entry to the hairdressing salon,” he said.
“The burglary appears to have occurred sometime between 5am and 6am on Sunday, 30 October and the timing seems to coincide with other robberies in the area.”
Det Sgt Fleming said the Healesville Football Club’s clubrooms at the Don Road Reserve were also attacked, about 6am on 30 October.
“An offender tried to force entry through a rear door but was deterred when an alarm was triggered,” he said.
Det Sgt Fleming said police were also investigating the theft of more than $2,000 in electronic music equipment from a privately owned shed on Gibbs Road.
Other robberies involved in the weekend crime wave include the theft of a cash register from the Healesville Sweet Company, which was later recovered in Coronation Park, and the ransacking of Earthcare Health Foods on Healesville’s main street.
Sergeant Van Gorp said hundreds of dollars worth of glassware was also stolen from the soon to be opened winery Giant Steps on the Maroondah Highway.
Anyone with information about the robberies should phone either Lilydale police on 9735 1066 or Healesville police on 5962 4422.