By JESSE GRAHAM
POLICE are on the hunt for thieves who made off with tens of thousands of dollars worth of cigarettes, after a number of break-ins through the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs.
At 2.20am on Thursday 2 April, three masked men in a silver Holden Commodore stopped at Tecoma’s BP Service Station on Burwood Highway and smashed through the front window.
Two of the men, holding a doona cover, filled the cover with cigarettes before returning to the car.
However, their load was too big for the car, and the men dragged the sack of cigarettes along the car as they drove, losing about a third of their loot on the way.
The pair is believed to have stolen $20,000 worth of cigarettes from the service station, according to Lilydale Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant, Mark Smithwick.
Almost a week later, at 1am on Wednesday 8 April, the BP Service Station on the Warburton Highway in Lilydale was also broken into, this time by three people.
About $250 was taken from the store, and the same three people broke into the Caltex service station in Yarra Glen shortly after, this time taking ice creams and other goods.
“We believe they were after cigarettes,” Det Sgt Smithwick said.
A service station on Ryans Road in Eltham North was also broken into, and the thieves are believed to have taken over $38,000 worth of goods.
Police are currently searching for the three men.
The first man in Tecoma had a solid build and was wearing a white hooded jumper with a dark hood over the top, red pants and runners.
The second man had a thin build and was wearing a dark blue hooded jumper with a white logo on the front, dark shorts and runners.
The third man had a thin build, was wearing a red hooded jumper, track pants with a white stripe and runners.
The men had their faces covered at the time of the incidents.
Anyone with information on any of the burglaries are asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
