A FRANKSTON couple allegedly went on a senseless crime spree over the Christmas period – with little to show for it except extensive damage to shops and service stations and their upcoming day in court.
Police say the 20-year-old man and 21-year-old woman used a Holden Commodore sedan with stolen number plates to:
- Smash through front windows of service stations at Frankston South, Frankston and Carrum Downs while attempting to steal cash from ATMs;
- Crash through the front windows of auto after-market retail outlets at Narre Warren, Dandenong South and Cranbourne; and
- Break into seven veterinary surgeries at Frankston, Frankston South, Cranbourne and Langwarrin.
The raids took place between 11 December and 4 January.
Detective Sergeant Paul Mealia, of Frankston CIU, said the pair caused “massive damage” to the raided shops and businesses – ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 each.
In the first raid, offenders wearing balaclavas are captured on CCTV attempting to force entry to an after-market retail outlet at Dandenong South, then another in Cranbourne and then another at Narre Warren, where they made off with 35 audio headset units valued at $16,000.
They are then alleged to have raided the veterinary surgeries, but managing to steal only charity tins and loose change, before turning their attention to service stations.
The pair is alleged to have reversed their car through the front glass doors of the Coles Express on Frankston-Flinders Rd, around 3am, Sunday 3 January, and used a tow strap to rip out the ATM. Accelerating quickly, the force tore the ATM in half, with the top landing 15 metres in front of the store.
Finding no money in this part, the pair attempted to rip out the bottom section without success before driving off.
At the same time next day, police say the offenders twice reversed their car into the front glass doors of the BP service station, Frankston-Dandenong Rd, Frankston, but could not get inside. They drove off leaving the car’s driver side taillight at the scene – amid extensive damage.
Ten minutes later, police say the same offenders again failed to rip out an ATM, this time at the Caltex service station, Frankston-Flinders Rd, Carrum Downs, after reversing through the front glass doors and tying a chain around the ATM.
They accelerated quickly but the chain snapped and the offenders again fled the scene empty handed.
An off-duty officer saw the alleged getaway car at Baxter and alerted mobile units. Later, a patrol car came upon the car in Cambridge St, Frankston, and, in a coordinated operation, the occupants were arrested, 9am, Monday 4 January.
Detective Mealia said most of the audio headsets were recovered in the car after the arrests.
A Frankston man has been charged with seven counts of burglary, five of attempted burglary, six of theft, three of criminal damage and two of going equipped to steal.
He has been remanded to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court, Thursday.
A Frankston woman has been charged with three counts of burglary, four of attempted burglary, two of theft, three of criminal damage and two of going equipped to steal.
She has been bailed to appear at the same court in April.
