Taskforce investigates 27 arson attacks

A specialised Victoria Police taskforce is investigating 27 arson attacks on businesses across the state since March. It’s believed the fires are part of a gangland war over illegal profits. 

 March:

• Fire at tobacco store on Springvale Road where two offenders throw items through the window to set it alight.

May:

• Offender makes two separate attempts to force the shutter of a tobacco store in Young Street, Moonee Ponds. then throws an item into the store to set it alight.

June: 

• Stolen vehicle reverses into Moonee Ponds tobacco store, with offenders then pouring fuel around the shop and setting it alight.
• Third attack on Young Street store involves offenders parking a stolen vehicle outside and setting it on fire, which also damages the premises.
• Offenders attack a Werribee tobacco store three times by smashing the window, pouring accelerant inside and setting it alight.

July: 

• An axe is used to gain entry into a Deer Park tobacco store on Dumfries Street. Accelerant is then poured about and set alight, causing an explosion.
• A second store on Dumfries Street is torched, with accelerant poured into a newly-opened premises and set on fire.
• A metal roller door is smashed into at a Wodonga tobacco store and the premises lit up.
• Offenders smash the glass doors of a shop in Wangaratta, splash accelerant inside and set it alight.

August:

• Third incident on Dumfries Street with offenders targeting another store in the same location. Vehicle driven into shopfront and set alight.
• Fire deliberately lit at tobacco store in Hoppers Crossing. 
• Smoke observed coming from a business in Burwood and emergency services locate a fire within.
• Car reversed into fruit store in Hadfield to force open door, with offender setting the store and himself on fire.
• Vehicle reversed into tobacco store on West Street, Hadfield, with accelerant sprayed throughout and premises set alight.
• Vehicle believed linked to West Street blaze found torched in Greenvale.

September: 

• Fire lit at two adjacent stores on Station Street, Oakleigh, one of them a tobacco store.
• Vehicle believed linked to Craigieburn fire found alight in Beveridge.
• Fire deliberately lit at tobacco store in Whittlesea.
• Vehicle reversed into front of tobacco store on Station Street and premises set alight – same address previously targeted.
• Fire deliberately lit in yard behind tobacco store in Bentleigh.
• Fire at tobacco store in Derrimut. 

October: 

• Suspicious fire at a factory in Williamstown, with significant damage to property.
• Fire at tobacco store in Bentleigh, same store as in September.
• Fire at store in Glenroy, car used later found alight in Coburg.

Source: Victoria Police

–AAP