Two Teens Charged in Connection with Series of Arson Attacks
Two 19-year-old males from Werribee and Point Cook were apprehended in connection to a series of suspected linked arson attacks.
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Search warrants were carried out at residential properties in Werribee and Point Cook on Tuesday, March 25, as part of the ongoing investigation. The individual from Werribee is facing charges including three counts of criminal damage by fire, theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of handling stolen goods, and two counts of driving while disqualified. The Point Cook resident was interviewed and is anticipated to be charged on summons.
An electric bike and several debit and credit cards, all reported stolen, were seized from the Werribee property. These arrests and charges are believed to be connected to arson incidents at a tobacco store in Fawkner last September, as well as a bicycle store and a gymnasium in Brunswick East in October.
Fire crews were called to the Bonwick Street store in Fawkner around 2.30am on Monday, September 30. The building was empty at the time, but it suffered significant damage. On Tuesday, October 15, emergency services responded to a report of a black BMW ramming the garage door of a ground floor business on Lygon Street in Brunswick East around 2.55am. An offender reportedly set fire to his arm during the incident, causing him to leave the scene on foot.
Investigators speculate that the gymnasium situated above the bicycle store was the intended target of the attack. The damage to both businesses is estimated to exceed $1.6 million.
