Detectives from Taskforce Lunar arrested two men as part of their investigation into a series of arson attacks believed to be linked.
Two search warrants were executed at residential addresses in Werribee and Point Cook yesterday.
A 19-year-old Werribee man was charged with three counts of criminal damage by fire, theft of motor vehicle, two counts of handle stolen goods and two counts of driving while disqualified.
He appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
A 19-year-old Point Cook man was interviewed by police and is expected to be charged on summons.
The charges follow arson attacks at a Fawkner tobacco store in September last year, as well as a bicycle store and a gymnasium in Brunswick East in October.
Emergency services were called to a blaze at the Bonwick Street store in Fawkner at about 2:30am on Monday, September 30.
Nobody was inside the premises, but it sustained significant damage during the incident.
Emergency services were called to the Lygon Street scene following reports a black BMW was seen ramming the garage door of the ground floor business about 2:55am on Tuesday, October 15.
Police have been told one of the male offenders also set fire to his arm in the process, forcing him to flee the scene on foot.
Investigators believe the gymnasium above the cycling store was the intended target of the attack.
No one else was physically injured in the fire, but both businesses sustained over $1.6M damage.
Investigators seized a stolen electric bike and stolen debit and credit cards from the Werribee address.
Separately, a 39-year-old Port Melbourne man was charged by Taskforce Lunar detectives on Monday. March 24 with extortion – following a threat to destroy property.
Investigators will allege he attended a tobacco store in the city’s inner west on Tuesday, February 25, stating he had been sent by the leader of a Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate and offering the owner $70,000 to hand over control of the store.
The owner declined and received a phone call two days later, saying if he didn’t agree to the takeover, the store would be burned down.
The Port Melbourne man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 16 June.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au.
