Melbourne, Vic — A 28-year-old Carrum Downs man has been arrested and charged following what Victoria Police describe as an extensive crime spree across Melbourne’s southern and eastern suburbs earlier this month.
Detectives from the Moorabbin and Frankston Crime Investigation Units allege the offending took place between 3 August and 23 August 2025, and included multiple burglaries, thefts of motor vehicles, and at least two dangerous driving incidents in an effort to evade police.
Scope of the alleged offending
Police have identified offending locations spanning a large geographic area, including:
- Dandenong South
- Clayton
- Cranbourne
- Braeside
- Somerville
- Bentleigh
- Noble Park
- Moorabbin
- Cheltenham
- Sandringham
- Narre Warren
- Pakenham
- Clyde
- Skye Officer
- Frankston
In one incident, a stolen vehicle was allegedly driven dangerously while attempting to avoid arrest during a pursuit in Pakenham on 12 August, and again in Skye on 18 August.
The arrest came after a coordinated response from multiple policing units, including Victoria Police’s Dog Squad, Air Wing and Southern Metropolitan Region Crime Squad.
Arrest and charges
The suspect was arrested in Frankston on Saturday, 23 August.
He was already wanted on a warrant for failing to appear at court in relation to previous offending, according to Victoria Police.
Following the arrest, he was charged with 32 offences, including:
- Multiple burglaries
- Theft of motor vehicles
- Conduct endangering serious injury
- Dangerous driving while evading police
The accused has been remanded to face Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 27 August 2025.
Police response and community safety
The widespread nature of the alleged offending, covering both residential and business areas across the southern and eastern suburbs, prompted a multi-unit policing response. The deployment of specialist units, including air support and canine teams, underscores Victoria Police’s emphasis on disrupting prolific offending.
Victoria Police Crime Command has emphasised the importance of intelligence coordination across regions when dealing with offenders who commit crimes across large geographic areas.
Police are urging community members who may have witnessed suspicious activity, dashcam footage of erratic driving, or thefts in the listed suburbs during August to come forward to assist further investigations.
Why are these criminals never shown to the public? Why are they protected but the victims can be shown, particularly on TV? Once the offender has been charged, the police are pretty certain they have the actual offender. Not so important if “he” is remanded but so often they are bailed….we, the public, surely have the right to see who is a danger to us!