Melbourne police are investigating an alleged organised crime syndicate that is accused of stealing around $50,000 worth of collectible trading cards – including Pokémon, Disney Lorcana, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic: The Gathering, Dragon Ball Z, AFL and NBA cards – as well as several other high-value items.
Over the past week, four individuals have been arrested in connection with a series of commercial burglaries. It is claimed that the group targeted six cryptocurrency ATMs from businesses in Hoppers Crossing, Bentleigh, Brunswick, Werribee and Vermont, alongside burglaries at three collector card shops in Epping, Moonee Ponds and Eumemmerring since mid-January.
In searches conducted across Reservoir, Coburg North, Greensborough and South Morang, police reportedly seized not only the trading cards but also five stolen firearms, roughly 100 stolen car keys, ammunition, pilfered power tools and a pill press machine.
Detectives believe stolen vehicles were used by the syndicate to facilitate their criminal activities.
Among those arrested were a 37-year-old Reservoir man and a 32-year-old Epping man, who have been identified as the alleged primary offenders.
The Reservoir man faces 14 charges, including burglary of commercial cryptocurrency ATM and game stores, possession of a trafficable quantity of firearms, and possession of stolen goods.
He is set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 2. The Epping man, charged with five commercial burglaries, theft of motor vehicles, theft, unlicensed driving, possession of methamphetamine, drug dependence, and possession of a prohibited weapon, was remanded and is scheduled to appear at court on February 21.
Two additional men, aged 33 and 46 from Reservoir, have been released pending further investigations.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as they continue to pursue leads in this ongoing investigation.
