by Luke Voogt
A spate of burglaries across Geelong and surrounding towns in October has prompted a police manhunt for three alleged culprits.
Geelong Tasking and Crime Intervention Taskforce (TACIT) detectives believed seven commercial burglaries during the month were linked, police stated on Monday.
On 10 October about 3.30am three male offenders broke into a Caltex service station on Thompson Rd, North Geelong, stealing cigarettes and causing significant property damage.
Investigators released an image of an Iveco Ducato tray truck they believed was involved in the break-in and two men who could “assist with enquiries”.
Detectives believed thieves stole the truck during a burglary at Leopold on 9 October.
Police recovered the truck on 10 October after the servo bandits allegedly dumped the vehicle in Corinella St, Bell Post Hill.
Three more burglaries in three separate towns occurred in one hour on 15 October, with two alleged burglars stealing mobile phone accessories, cigarettes, alcohol and cash.
Detectives released an image of a late model silver Mitsubishi Pajero in relation to a break-in at IGA on Main Rd, Winchelsea.
They also released an image showing a burglar using a saw to cut through a roller door at the supermarket.
The other two burglaries that night occurred at a service station on Midland Hwy, Bannockburn, and at a liquor store on The Centreway, Lara.
On 27 October a further three burglaries occurred in Geelong between 1.50am and 2.15am, with offenders stealing cash and cigarettes.
In 25 minutes the burglars broke into a fast-food outlet on Melbourne Rd, North Geelong, a store on Shannon Ave, Geelong West and The Cremorne Hotel on Pakington St, Newtown, police alleged.
Detectives believed these offenders were the same three involved in the burglary on 10 October.
At least two were involved in the burglaries on 15 October.
During the seven burglaries offenders used vehicles or large industrial tools such as demolition saws, crow bars and angle grinders to force entry, police alleged.
TACIT detectives on Monday released an image of two offenders they “wished to speak to” in relation to The Cremorne Hotel burglary.
They urged any witnesses or anyone with information on the offences or alleged offenders to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
