Police are seeking public assistance to locate Mark Filiti following a series of bogus delivery-for-cash incidents across Victoria in the past two months.
Darebin Crime Investigation Unit detectives believe at least 17 victims have been targeted by a man claiming he requires cash up front to make a delivery between December 11 and January 21.
Some of the incidents have occurred in Broadford, Seymour and South Morang.
Police have been told in most of the incidents, the man attends a business or residence claiming he has a delivery of goods for them, but requires payment before he can give them their items.
He also tries to sell goods at bargain prices but requires payment up front.
Once victims hand over the cash, between $100 and $2500, the offender leaves, telling victim he is going to collect the items due for delivery or purchased, but he instead leaves the scene.
Investigators executed a search warrant at a Burnside Heights home on December 30 but are yet to make an arrest.
Police have now issued a warrant for Filiti.
The incidents include $450 taken from a café on High Street in Broadford and $850 from a gift store on Station Street in Seymour, both on January 21.
On January 15, $400 was taken from a fast-food outlet on Plenty Road in South Morang.
Other incidents include $1800 dollars from a woman at a private residence in St Albans; $200 from a bottle shop in Sydenham; $100 from a bakery in Flemington; $550 from a grocery store in Prahran; $450 from an ice cream store in Thornbury; $800 from a café in Thornbury; $2500 from a shop in Werribee; $300 from a bakery in Gisborne; $2000 from a fish and chip shop in Portarlington; $700 was taken from an ice cream shop in Dromana; $1300 from a fast-food outlet in Pakenham; $600 from a bottle shop in Briar Hill; and $500 from a café in Macleod.
The offender also attempted to sell discounted coffee to a café in Moolap but staff didn’t provide any cash.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
To read this week’s full police report, click here.
