EXCLUSIVE
By MELISSA MEEHAN
UPDATE 12.36pm
THE Patch General Store owner Andrew Collins believes thieves ransacked his store last night looking for money and cigarettes.
“Our alarm went off at about 3am,” Mr Collins said.
“But when I got here about 10 past 3 they were gone.”
He said the thieves took some money from the store, all coins, and customers were finding 20 cent pieces along the footpath to the building.
“They ripped part of the door off, but there was little damage,” he said.
“But it’s a big thing for the normally quiet The Patch.”
Police forensic crews were on scene this morning and will continue their investigation.
They are also investigating a petrol bomb attack on the Monbulk Police Station garage as well as finding a burnt out car overnight.
More to come as it happens.
UPDATE 9.50am
Police can not confirm that three incidents overnight including an attack on Monbulk Police Station are linked.
Monbulk Sergeant Mark Knight said that a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the police garage not long after 3.40am.
The police station was unmanned at the time.
Police are also investigating a burglary at The Patch general store where money was stolen and the inside ransacked.
A burnt out car was also found along the Monbulk-Emerald Road and has been towed away for forensic examination.
Investigators are still on scene at all three locations and any witnesses are asked to contact Yarra Ranges CIU on 9739 2300 or Monbulk police on 9756 6266.
EARLIER
Forensic investigators are currently at Monbulk Police Station after a Molotov cocktail was thrown through the station’s garage overnight.
Police believe it’s part of a crime spree throughout the area last night.
More information as it comes.
