THIEVES stole $600,000 in jewellery in Springvale last month in what police say is a string of international thefts.
Two sales representatives, both Hong Kong nationals, returned to their black Toyota Yaris sedan parked in Buckingham Avenue about 3.30pm on 30 October, after visiting a jewellery store in the nearby shopping centre.
The men had each placed about $300,000 worth of jewellery in the back seat of the car and were ready to drive away when two South American men smashed the front and rear driver’s side windows.
Greater Dandenong Embona Detective Senior Constable Guy Matheson said one reached in, took the key from the ignition and snapped it while the other took the jewellery from the back seat.
Police believe they might have fled in a white Holden Commodore sedan.
The victims had flown in on Monday and Det Sen Const Matheson said the thieves might have followed the men until they struck.
He said there had been up to 30 similar incidents in Queensland and New South Wales in recent years and more internationally, and police were keen to stop it becoming a problem in Victoria.
The Springvale incident followed one in A-Beckett Street, Melbourne, on 12 October.
Two Hong Kong nationals – sales reps from a different jewellery company – returned to their hotel about 10pm.
Two South American men pulled up beside their car, smashed the two driver’s side windows, took and broke the car key and stole two bags from the back seat containing jewellery worth $500,000.
Det Sen Const Matheson said the thieves might have fled in a maroon-coloured Daewoo hatch.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any information on either theft.
