Lake Wendouree residents say cars are regularly vandalised in the suburb at night after waking up to a trail of destruction on Monday.
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Shift worker Mark, who lives on Gregory Street, received a knock on the door yesterday morning from police officers, who told him a tyre on his car had been slashed.
“Somebody tried to break into my car at least three times on this street last year,” Mark said.
“People who go out in the CBD walk down Gregory Street to go home late at night.
“Luckily, I have a spare tyre.”
Earlier in the night, police were dispatched to Webster Street following reports of an aggravated burglary about 11.45pm on Sunday.
Police arrived at the scene before finding tyres had been slashed on vehicles throughout Lake Wendouree, including on Wendouree Parade, Gregory Street and Lindisfarne Crescent.
A search operation began and police scoured the area in the dark. A 22-year-old man allegedly armed with a knife was eventually apprehended by officers about 2.30am.
Benjamin Hanshaw-Brown was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and possessing a controlled weapon.
Police opposed his bail application in court on Monday afternoon and he was remanded in custody until his next appearance on March 15.
The court heard Hanshaw-Brown has a mental health condition and had not taken his medication for up to three weeks before the incidents.
The charges relate to aggravated burglaries in homes on Webster Street and also on Wendouree Parade shortly before 2.30am.
No one was injured during either of the break-ins.
Hanshaw-Brown was also questioned over the tyre slashings across Lake Wendouree, but charges relating to these incidents have not yet been finalised.
Police said they have so far received more than 20 reports of cars being targeted.
“The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers,” Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said on Monday morning. Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report online.