Two charged following ball bearing criminal damage incidents

Two men have been charged following a series of criminal damage incidents where ball bearings were fired across Melbourne’s north and south earlier this month.

Fawkner Divisional Response Unit detectives will allege the men travelled between several locations in a vehicle and fired the projectiles at shops, restaurants, businesses, properties and bus shelters.

The alleged incidents occurred in multiple suburbs including Brunswick, Bentleigh East, Moorabbin, Malvern East, South Yarra, Craigieburn and Coburg between Monday 4 May and Saturday 16 May.

Some of the alleged incidents, which police believe are random and not targeted attacks, include:

• A window was shattered at the entrance of an apartment building on Dandenong Road in Malvern East about 10.50pm on Friday, 8 May. A ball bearing was located in the front foyer.

• The glass window of a property on Centre Road in Bentleigh East was smashed about 11.50pm on Friday, 8 May. The occupants thought it was a gunshot, and they were not physically injured. Police located a ball bearing at the scene.

• A vehicle travelling along Sydney Road in Coburg slowed down outside a restaurant before a ball bearing was discharged into the front glass door about 3.10am on Saturday, 9 May. The windows of a bank and juice bar on Sydney Road were also damaged.

• The front window of Brunswick Baths on Dawson Street and several bus shelters in Coburg were also smashed during the early hours of Saturday, 9 May.

There were no physical injuries during the incidents.

Following extensive investigations, detectives executed search warrants in Lalor and South Morang this morning (22 May) where two men were arrested.

Ball bearings were located in both properties and police located two sling shots in South Morang.

A 23-year-old Lalor man was charged with committing an indictable offence whilst on bail, 40 x criminal damage, and 11 x reckless conduct endanger serious injury.

He will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.

A 22-year-old South Morang man was charged with committing an indictable offence whilst on bail, 40 x criminal damage, 11 x reckless conduct endanger serious injury, and 3 x possess prohibited weapon.

He will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

Police are continuing to investigate the series of incidents and further charges are expected to be laid.

Kathryn Muffett

Media Unit

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