A HASTINGS man discovered sleeping in a car in a quiet lane off Olivers Hill last week, was one of the Mornington Peninsula’s “most wanted men”.
The 25-year-old, accompanied by a woman, was seen by a passerby in what turned out to be a stolen Mercedes sedan about 7am, Tuesday 8 November.
Frankston police who responded found a rifle in the car which was allegedly stolen from a Somerville property on 31 October.
Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Drake, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, described the man as one of the peninsula’s “most wanted”.
The man was later charged with 40 offences, including multiple burglaries in which up to eight firearms were taken, theft of cars and theft from cars.
His haul included a $114,000 Toyota Sahara, which has since been recovered, and a 5.3-metre boat and trailer, stolen from a Hastings property, which is still missing.
Detective Drake said police had “been looking for the man for a long while”.
He said several vehicles and other stolen items had since been recovered from the man’s house.
The man has been remanded in custody to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court, Thursday 8 December.
