Appeal for public help over second crime spree

POLICE are appealing to the public for help in identifying a burglar who has committed a second spate of raids in Healesville.
The latest burglaries took place overnight between Friday, 11 November and Saturday, 12 November and involve the theft of cash and goods from five commercial properties.
Sergeant Tony Van Gorp from Healesville police said the thief broke into the Maroondah Garden Centre on Maroondah Highway and stole cash and garden supplies to the value of $900.
The Le Pine Heritage Funeral home, also on Maroondah Highway, was broken into and the offender got away with a small quantity of cash, a portable CD player and a phone valued at more than $300.
And police also believe the same person broke into a mechanics workshop on Lilydale Road in Healesville.
Investigators say the offender forced entry to the premises but fled after an alarm was activated.
Sgt Van Gorp said two separate office spaces located on the first floor of a building on the corner of Church Street and Maroondah Highway were also attacked.
He said the raider smashed a central entry door and stole a computer to the value of $500.
These attacks follow the theft of cash and goods, and the destruction of property on nine commercial premises in Healesville over the Melbourne Cup long weekend (Friday, 28 October to Tuesday, 1 November).
Sgt Van Gorp said police believe the same individual is responsible for the string of burglaries, which have mainly occurred overnight on weekends.
“We are confident that investigations will identify an offender soon, but we are also asking the community to help us with any information,” he said.
“Business owners can also make extra efforts to secure their premises.
“Having an alarm and lighting around buildings is clearly beneficial.”