Three Irish men have been charged in connection with more than 60 “sophisticated residential burglaries” in Australia.
Police in Melbourne, who arrested the trio at a hotel near the city’s airport this morning, allege that the men were responsible for the theft of more than one million Australian dollars (€610,000) in property, including cash, jewellery and designer handbags.
The men, aged 25, 24 and 19, are due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court tomorrow on charges of aggravated home invasion, aggravated burglary, burglary, and theft from a motor vehicle.
The majority of the alleged offences occurred while the homeowners were away from their homes, Victoria Police said.
The three men, who police said have no fixed address, allegedly used cleaning products in an attempt to cover their tracks.
The burglaries occurred in the Melbourne suburbs of Blackburn, Doncaster, Narre Warren, Hampton Park and Templestowe since January.
Authorities said they have recovered more than 380,000 Australian dollars in cash and designer jewellery that was stolen by the trio.
“Your home should be your sanctuary – Victoria Police simply will not stand for anyone who seeks to enter someone else’s home and takes what’s not theirs,” said Detective Senior Sergeant Brendon Pollock, of Box Hill police station.
“We will continue to target serious and organised crime groups, no matter where they’re from.”
In March, three other Irish nationals were arrested in connection with burglaries in Melbourne, and police believe that the six individuals are all part of the same crime syndicate.
Police are continuing to probe whether the syndicate is responsible for any other unsolved burglaries.
