Hot Holden seized as ‘rebirthing’ syndicate dismantled
Victoria Police are continuing to crack down on alleged ‘rebirthing’ syndicates in the state, who seem to be fixated on performance Holdens.
A total of 10 vehicles have been seized after Victoria Police dismantled an alleged ‘rebirthing’ syndicate across Melbourne’s suburbs.
On Tuesday June 16, investigators from the Melton Divisional Crime Tasking Team executed seven search warrants at properties in the Keysborough, Carrum Downs and Brookfield, with assistance from the Greater Dandenong Crime Investigation and Vehicle Crime Squad units/
The searches resulted in the seizure of eight Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) cars, a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Toyota Landcruiser, as well as stolen car parts, altogether estimated to be worth $1.5 million.
Jordan Mulach
These parts included car doors, engine blocks, fake registration plates, transmissions, car seats, bonnets and wheels.
According to Victoria Police, the cars were allegedly stolen from Melbourne and potentially interstate regions, after which their Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and engine stamps were removed.
This was followed by these items being replaced with new ones, allowing the cars to be re-registered in a process known as rebirthing.
Police arrested and charged three men in relation to the alleged syndicate.
Jordan Mulach
Holden Commodores and especially higher-value HSVs have recently become popular targets for thieves, particularly in Victoria.
VF Holden Commodores - upon which the HSV Gen-Fs were based - are vulnerable to a weakness which allows thieves to use devices to clone their keys.
This technology is responsible for approximately one-quarter of all car thefts in Victoria, with recent Toyotas also targeted by criminals.
