Police investigating the theft of grey nomad caravans by a man described as a ‘master of disguises’ have made an arrest.
A 35-year-old Queensland man is now being questioned by Victorian police in Sudbury and is expected to be charged later this morning.
Two stolen caravans were recovered. One of the caravans has been linked back to a theft earlier this month in Invermay near Ballarat, and the other was stolen from the Melbourne suburb of Patterson Lakes exactly a week ago.
Before the arrest, police had warned that the alleged caravan thief, who is believed to be bald, had been seen wearing a number of wigs, including a reggae-style beanie with brown dreadlocks, and a wig with straight brown hair.
As well as the actual thefts, the chameleon-like criminal had earlier reportedly been foiled in his attempt to take another at Monbulk in Melbourne’s south-east, and was also seen sizing up a third, also in the Monbulk area.
Police say the recovered caravans will be returned to their owners later today.
The owners of the $50,000 Jayco Sterling caravan stolen from Patterson Lakes last Thursday will be particularly happy.
Police say they are an ‘elderly couple’ who had recently purchased the caravan and were planning to leave this week on a grey nomad adventure to Darwin.
The arrest was made after police officers recognise the Toyota Hilux seen at the scene of previous incidents.
Sergeant Heath Merry and his partner for the evening, Constable Leon Schroeter, said this sort or result was what policing was all about.
“Not only have we caught an offender, we have recovered valuable property,” they said. “And we can’t wait to reunite these caravans with the rightful owners later this morning”.
Comment below
Well done Vic Police…
Congrats to the police job well done.