A Badger Creek man and a Mooroolbark woman were arrested alongside seven other counterparts after being located at a factory allegedly containing a bounty of stolen goods.
Police officers from Knox and Rowville were patrolling the area when reports of suspicious activity at a factory on Lewis Road in Wantirna South on 10 January were made.
An allegedly stolen Renault van was driven through a boundary fence before being located abandoned in Ringwood East.
Seven people inside the factory were swiftly arrested.
Police including detectives from Knox Crime Investigation Unit located over 150 allegedly stolen items and other items including a VF Commodore sedan, a Ford Falcon utility, multiple power tools, drugs including crystal methamphetamine, cannabis and GHB, a handgun and multiple laptops, tablets and mobile phones.
An eighth suspect was arrested after turning up to the factory while officers were on-site.
A 35-year-old Craigieburn man, a 31-year-old Wallan man, a 27-year-old Oakleigh South man, a 34-year-old man of no fixed address, a 23-year-old Deniliquin man, a 28-year-old Badger Creek man and a 23-year-old Mooroolbark woman and a 20-year-old Rowville woman were interviewed and released from custody pending further enquiries.
The driver of the allegedly stolen Renault van was arrested on 14 January by Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives.
A 23-year-old Clayton man was charged with reckless exposure of police officer to risk by driving, three counts of theft of motor vehicle, criminal damage and driving whilst disqualified.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 21 January.
