- Published:
- Thursday 21 May 2026 at 10:36 am
Detectives from Operation Eclipse have charged a man overnight as part of an investigation into a threat made to a licensed venue in Melbourne’s CBD.
A 21-year-old man of no fixed place of address was yesterday arrested in Epping.
Police will allege on 9 May around 10.30pm, the man called a former staff member of a licensed venue on Russell Street in Melbourne, making threats to the venue if money was not paid by the end of the week.
It will be further alleged that the incident was a crime of opportunity – copycat offending exploiting the current series of offending linked to hospitality venues across Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs.
The man was charged with possess drug of dependence.
He was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on 7 July.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Operation Eclipse commenced on 27 April to target a range of serious and organised crime syndicates believed to be involved in a series of offending linked to hospitality venues, as well as determining the motive for these attacks.
The operation, led by specialist detectives including the Gang Crime Squad and Arson and Explosives Squad continues to work closely with local police, in particular regional detectives who continue to respond to and investigate these incidents.
The specialist resources in Operation Eclipse will focus on the organisers and those pulling the strings.
Investigators are continuing to look at all possible motivations behind the offending including who is involved and why.
Police remain open to a range of possibilities and we encourage anyone with any information to come forward.
Police continue to have an increased presence in both an overt and a covert capacity throughout these entertainment precincts, including increased patrols of these areas and visits to licensed premises.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Media Unit
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