Victoria Police say retailers are now actively monitoring sales of jerry cans and fuel and reporting suspicious purchases to detectives, as a wave of arson attacks linked to organised crime extortion continues across Melbourne.
The arson wave
Hospitality venues, retailers and car dealerships across Melbourne have been targeted in a series of firebombings that police link to the extortion of business owners by organised crime gangs. The latest was a luxury and sports car workshop in Springvale, which was substantially damaged a week after a drive-by shooting at the same business.
The retail alliance
Detective Inspector Chris Murray, in charge of the Arson and Explosives Squad, said Victoria Police had recently met retail sector representatives to form an alliance in which stores monitor the sale of jerry cans and fuel, with suspicious purchases reported to detectives.
“That’s paying great dividends for us,” Inspector Murray said.
He said police had made hundreds of arrests in recent months and had increased overt and covert patrols across the state.
The human cost
Inspector Murray said two people were on life support, 20 offenders had been seriously injured carrying out arson attacks, and one had died. He warned that young people recruited by crime gangs found it very difficult to walk away once involved, with families and individuals threatened.
Where fuel retail fits
Service stations are the most common point of sale for fuel in a container, which puts forecourt staff at the front of the monitoring effort. Most container fuel sales are routine. The concern is patterns such as several containers filled at once, no vehicle being fuelled, faces deliberately covered or unsuitable containers being used.
A note for independent operators
Brief every shift, including casuals, on what a suspicious container sale looks like, and make clear that staff should never confront or question the customer. Make sure forecourt cameras cover the pumps and number plates, note the details, and report suspicious sales afterwards to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or triple zero if anyone is in immediate danger.