THREE tradies awoken by the sound of a burglar trying to steal their beer fridge made “a citizen’s arrest” in Sandhurst after two chased and apprehended the intruder.
Police said the fridge thief has been charged over several burglaries over a few days in the Aspendale Gardens, Patterson Lakes, Clayton South and Sandhurst areas.
Frankston crime investigation unit detective Senior Constable Belinda Rampal said that “80 per cent” of stolen property including laptops, tablets, credit cards and TVs has been recovered.
Two cars worth about $25,000 each are still missing.
She said police are still on the lookout for a 2009 blue Ford Territory and a silver Honda Civic with New South Wales plates that were stolen during the burglaries spree.
Senior Constable Rampal urged people to keep doors and windows locked, especially at night.
“It seems the offender was trying the door of every house in some Patterson Lakes streets,” she said.
The thief’s luck ran out and came to a crashing halt when he dropped the beer fridge at the Kelly Terrace home in Sandhurst on the night of Friday 23 March.
The tradies were awoken by the sound of the dropped fridge and smashed beer bottles and ran after the fleeing thief. Two managed to catch him in the street before police arrived.
The burglar’s car was found around the corner from the attempted fridge heist and property from four other burglaries in the area was recovered from the vehicle.
The man was charged with 10 counts of aggravated burglary, 10 counts of theft of property by deception and the theft of two motor vehicles.
Senior Constable Rampal said the charged man was also believed to be responsible for an attempted break-in at Keaton Way in Aspendale Gardens on Tuesday 20 March.
Laserlite panels on a verandah roof were damaged when the offender fled in that instance.
Anyone with information on the missing vehicles should contact Senior Constable Belinda Rampal at Frankston police station on 9784 5555 or make a report at crimestoppersvic.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 4 April 2018
