By ANEEKA SIMONIS
BURGLARS used an angle grinder to cut the locks off a Pakenham store during one of several raids targeting electrical stores across the outer south-east region.
The same hooded offenders are thought to have burgled stores in Berwick and Cranbourne before making their way to Pakenham in the dead of night on Friday 18 March.
Police said five unidentified raiders struck at the Telstra store on Main Street, Pakenham, just after 4am that morning, armed with an angle grinder which they used to cut the lock and smash their way in.
Pakenham Senior Constable Jacky A’Herne said the store had been burgled in similar fashion about a month earlier.
He said that previously targeted merchandise including iPhones and Samsung mobile phones had been stored away in two large metal safes which were bolted to the ground since that raid.
All other phone models and accessories were left displayed in the store but none were taken by the burglars who left empty handed.
Police believe the same group of raiders earlier targeted electrical stores in Berwick and Cranbourne.
Six thieves broke into a Berwick store about 3am on 18 March but left without any loot.
However about 20 minutes later, police alleged the same men then moved on to Cranbourne where they broke into another electrical store on the South Gippsland Highway and stole a number of computers and phones.
It was after that raid that the burglars are believed to have swooped on the Pakenham store.
Sen Const A’Herne commended the Pakenham store for making security upgrades in the weeks since the first burglary.
“They have taken measures to change their situation and, in this case, it has had a successful outcome,” she said.
However she said that while no merchandise was taken, the store did incur about $5000 in property damage.
A white Mitsubishi Outlander and a dark Toyota FJ Cruiser were spotted around the time of the break-ins.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
