A 24-year-old Frankston man has been arrested following a three-week crime spree that spanned Melbourne’s southeast, involving burglaries, vehicle thefts, arson, and a failed carjacking attempt.
String of Offences
Detectives say the man’s offending began on 2 May with an attempted aggravated burglary in Frankston South. From there, the crime spree escalated rapidly, with police linking the suspect to:
- A burglary in Shoreham (6 May)
- An attempted aggravated burglary and theft from a vehicle (8 May)
- Burglaries in Mount Eliza (8 May)
- An aggravated burglary and car theft in Langwarrin (16 May)
- A shopping centre burglary and two separate vehicle thefts in Frankston (16 May)
- A newsagency burglary in Somerville (17 May)
- A vehicle theft in Carrum Downs (23 May)
- Tobacco store burglaries in Cranbourne and Langwarrin (24 May)
- An arson attack in Carrum Downs (24 May)
- Multiple aggravated burglaries in Carrum Downs, Cranbourne South, and Cranbourne West (25–26 May)
Attempted Carjacking During Crash
One of the more violent incidents occurred on 11 May when the man allegedly attempted to hijack a Tesla after causing a crash in Cranbourne West.
According to police, the suspect was driving a stolen silver Toyota RAV4 when he collided with a Honda around 7pm. After the crash, he reportedly approached a Tesla that had stopped to help, dragged the driver from the vehicle, tore his shirt, and demanded the keys. The attempt failed, and the man fled the scene.
Four people from the Honda were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Tesla driver was unharmed.
Arrest and Seizure
The man was arrested on Monday, 27 May, after detectives from the Casey, Frankston, and Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Units executed a search warrant at a property on Dandenong Road East in Frankston.
Two stolen vehicles were recovered at the premises — one allegedly stolen during an aggravated burglary in Officer and another reported missing from South Australia.
The man is currently under police guard in hospital and is expected to be interviewed by detectives once medically cleared.
Ongoing Investigation
Victoria Police confirmed that the investigation remains active, with further charges expected to be laid as inquiries continue.
