Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit detectives have arrested five more people following a series of fires that caused more than $10million in damage to businesses across metropolitan Melbourne.
Detectives, with members from the Brimbank Divisional Response Unit and North West Metro Crime Squad, executed search warrants at addresses in Craigieburn, Lalor, Bundoora and Wollert this morning.
The search warrants follow a series of alleged incidents at tobacco stores in Pakenham, Deer Park and Patterson Lakes over the last eight months.
The initial incident occurred inside a shopping centre on Main Street in Pakenham, about 1am on 3 August 2021.
The second occurred on Station Road in Deer Park, about 3.15am on 7 August 2021.
The third occurred this year on a shopping centre on Thompsons Road, Patterson Lakes on 9 February.
A 20-year-old Lalor man has been charged with two counts each of intentional destruction of property by fire, criminal damage by fire, burglary, commit indictable offence whilst on bail and one count of contravene certain conduct condition - bail.
A 20-year-old Wollert man has been charged with two counts each of intentional destruction of property by fire, criminal damage by fire, burglary and commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
A 20-year-old Lalor man has been charged with intentional destruction of property by fire, criminal damage by fire, burglary and commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
A 25-year-old Craigieburn woman has been charged with intentional destruction of property by fire, criminal damage by fire, burglary and commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
All four will face the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
An 18-year-old Bundoora woman has been charged with possess prohibited weapon without exemption and has been bailed to appear at the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on 30 June.
These arrests follow the arrests of two men in relation to the Patterson Lakes fire on 7 March.
