On Tuesday, Australian police announced the dismantling of a local crime syndicate accused of conducting a series of commercial burglaries in Melbourne.

The operation, which began in mid-January, involved the theft of six cryptocurrency ATMs and a significant collection of valuable trading cards, with the total haul including Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic the Gathering collectibles.

The Victoria Police stated that their investigation led to the discovery of a trove of stolen goods, described as an "Aladdin's cave," which contained not only the aforementioned items but also firearms, 100 car keys, a pill press machine, and power tools. This cache points to a "significant network of offenders" believed to be behind the targeted thefts.

Four men have been apprehended in connection with this crime wave. One of the suspects faces multiple charges, including 14 counts of burglary and handling stolen goods, and is scheduled to appear in court on May 2. Another suspect, charged with various offenses including five commercial burglaries and theft of motor vehicles, is set to face the court on February 21. The remaining two men have been released pending further inquiries.

Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson of the North West Metro Regional Crime Squad indicated that the main perpetrators were in custody and suggested a potential link to a larger criminal organization. He mentioned that the police had identified both the suppliers of the stolen goods and the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Syndicates allegedly directing the activities of the arrested individuals.

The thefts occurred in a state that is part of Australia's rapidly growing market for cryptocurrency ATMs. Data from Coin ATM Radar reveals a surge in the number of Bitcoin ATMs, with the country now hosting over 1,462 machines, up from just 67 in August 2022. This growth positions Australia as the third-largest hub for Bitcoin and crypto ATMs worldwide, following the United States and Canada.