In Melbourne, a burglary is like a bombshell, shattering the original tranquility. A 38-year-old St Albans man had the audacity to steal the identity of a Chinese woman, swept away more than $2 million in her bank account, and then used the ill-gotten wealth to live a life of poverty and luxury with his family.
The Herald Sun unveiled the mystery of the case on October 11. It turned out that 10 years ago, the victim left Australia and returned to China, leaving her home in Balwyn vacant.
And the man saw the opportunity to sneak into the uninhabited house and steal the unopened mail. It was these emails that became the key to his theft of the victim's identity information.
With this illegally obtained identity information, the man found the key to unlock the treasure trove of wealth, easily entered the victim's bank account, and recklessly transferred the $2.3 million that the victim had left to his grandson into his own name. Since then, he has embarked on a road of no return to profligacy.
He used the stolen money to go on a shopping spree, and he pocketed a Jaguar and three Mercedes Benz, which became his capital to show off on the streets.
In addition, he also has expensive luxury handbags, dazzling jewelry, exquisite high-end furniture and a variety of household appliances. He immersed himself in this illusory luxury of life, completely oblivious to the suffering endured by the victims and their families.
What's even worse is that this man not only covets pleasure himself, but also drags his family into the abyss of sin. As the leader of a fraud ring, he used the stolen funds to buy luxury goods for his mother and brother, immersing the whole family in this ill-gotten luxury.
Victorian police became aware of the man's unusual shopping behaviour in May this year. In just two months, he was like a shopaholic who had lost his mind, frantically buying at least 6 cars, as well as priceless diamond jewelry, luxurious Rolex watches, and items such as TVs, sofas, and refrigerators that are common in everyday life.
The police investigation went as deep as they cocooned, and they found that the man's crimes went far beyond theft and squandering of stolen money. He was even suspected of drug trafficking and illegally possessed a replica gun.
Last week, police launched a full-scale search operation with a meticulous search of Keilor Downs, South Morang and the man's home in St Albans. When police entered the house, they found him sleeping peacefully with a 45-year-old woman and a little girl, as if unaware of his crime.
Inside the house, police found a large collection of high-end clothing, with well-known brands such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Versace everywhere. The room is filled with items purchased with stolen funds, from practical dining chairs, washers, dryers, and mattresses to entertainment fixtures and sofa sets, as if it were a showcase for luxury items.
On Thursday, his seemingly indestructible life of luxury fell apart when investigators removed a series of poker-themed artwork from his two-story townhouse. At the same time, the porter tows away his black Mercedes C63 Coupe parked in the garage, a scene that feels like a merciless mockery of his criminal behavior.
Today, the man faces 23 serious charges, including opening a cash transaction account under a false name, operating a cash trading account under a false name, holding/receiving/keeping stolen goods, obtaining property by fraud, theft, driving after having his driver's license revoked, providing false or misleading information, knowingly handling the proceeds of crime, etc.
The 67-year-old woman and 40-year-old man arrested in this raid were the man's mother and brother, respectively. They and the 45-year-old woman, although they have been released, are still awaiting further investigation.
Police Officer Stacey Maliko said the Chinese woman was shocked and saddened by the loss of this huge amount of money. After all, the money means a lot to her grandson's future.
"Identity theft is an extremely serious crime, and using stolen money to buy luxury goods is an even more crime." "And, identity theft doesn't happen overnight, it's time-consuming, premeditated, and planned. ”
The St Albans man has been taken into custody and will appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court in January next year. Justice may be late, but it will never be absent.