A WOULD-BE thief masquerading as a police officer has left a Dandenong man stranded in handcuffs.
Greater Dandenong CIU Detective Senior Constable Jamie Cummings last Friday asked for public help to identify the fraud, who entered a Hutton Street home via an unlocked front door about 4pm on 22 February.
He produced what the victim believed was a police identification badge, informed the 25-year-old victim that he was under arrest for attempted murder and handcuffed him.
“We’re not sure if it’s a legitimate Victoria Police badge of if it’s a fake,” Sen Const Cummings said.
The intruder then warned the victim’s distressed mother not to call police.
“He’s then searched through the house,” Sen Const Cummings said.
“It appears he’s left empty-handed after the victim’s refused to provide him a combination to a safe.
“The victim has got a taxi to the Dandenong Police Station where he’s walked into the watch house of the Dandenong Police Station in cuffs.”
Fire crews cut him free.
“It does appear to be a targeted attack,” Sen Const Cummings said.
The offender, who was captured on CCTV, was described as 185 centimetres tall with solid build and spoke with a Turkish accent or similar.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
