Transit Divisional Response Unit detectives have charged a 40-year-old South Australian man with more than 200 offences following a major investigation into the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles across Melbourne.
The man was arrested in an allegedly stolen MG at a carpark in Springvale on Tuesday. He also faces separate charges after a van allegedly rammed an unmarked police car at Dandenong North on June 16.
A police officer discharged his firearm at the van. Nobody was injured.
Police will allege he stole more than 70 catalytic converters, which form part of a vehicle’s exhaust and are valuable because of the metal they’re made from.
The stolen parts have an estimated $270,000 value.
The man has been charged with 212 offences including theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, theft and drug offences. The man has been charged with recklessly exposing a police officer to risk by driving and conduct endangering serious injury over the police car incident.
The investigation began in April following reports one of the car parts was stolen from a parked vehicle in Noble Park.
Police linked the incident to a number of thefts across 10 suburbs including Dandenong, Springvale, Burwood, Highett, Chadstone and Brunswick.
The thefts occurred between April and June this year.
Transit DRU is continuing its investigations with more charges expected.
Professional Standards Command is overseeing Victoria Police’s investigation into the discharge of a firearm as is standard procedure.
The man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over all the charges on Wednesday.
He was remanded to face the court again on September 20, 2023.
