Officers from Victoria Police have seized a pair of high-performance Holdens, amid an epidemic of thefts of late-model Commodores.
On Sunday, February 2, Frankton Crime Investigation Unit detectives attended a property in Baxter, following an investigation targeting organised motor vehicle theft and high-risk driving.
The detectives seized an allegedly stolen Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) Senator and a Walkinshaw-tuned Holden Commodore SS, both of which were from the final (VF) generation of the model’s Australian production run.
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Other seized items include an allegedly stolen Yamaha motorcycle, a “traffickable quantity of methylamphetamines”, re-programmed car keys, allegedly cloned number plates, and cash.
Police estimate a total value of the goods of approximately $200,000.
A 35-year-old man was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, trafficking/possessing drugs of dependence and negligently dealing with proceeds of crime, and will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 17 March.
An 18-year-old woman was also arrested but was released with intent to summons.
“Investigators wish to assure the public that if your pride and joy is stolen, we will investigate this offending and bring the offenders before the courts,” Frankston Crime Investigation Unit Detective Nick Lamb said in a media statement.
“If people chose to engage in high risk driving whilst driving stolen motor vehicles, we will hold them to account.”
As previously reported, Holden VF Commodores – especially V8 variants – are being targeted by criminals, from those just wanting to joyride and others with more nefarious reasons.
Unfortunately, a cheap tool which is primarily used by mechanics and locksmiths to read OBD data (via a port in the interior that allows them to read vehicle diagnostics and reprogram certain onboard computers) and reprogram keys is also being used by criminals to steal Commodores.
You can read more about how that happens here.
MORE: Massive number of Holden and HSV cars being stolen using cheap eBay tool
