Police are guarding at least seven aged care homes across Melbourne after a drive-by shooting at an Arcare facility in Maidstone last week. The attack, which saw approximately 10 shots fired, has prompted special protection measures, including armed police patrols; Arcare has also employed private security guards at some homes. Three anonymous sources have linked the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang to the violence, which follows the firebombing of Pitard’s Brighton mansion in October.
According to Victoria Police, two males dressed in black exited a white SUV on Hampstead Road just before 4.30am on November 6 and fired approximately 10 shots before fleeing. A bullet hit the building, but no one was physically injured. The shooting has led to special protection measures, including armed police patrols, at Arcare sites.
Arcare operates more than 60 residential aged care communities across Australia, housing almost 5000 elderly residents. The company is part-owned by Russell Knowles, the father of Skye Pitard, who is married to Simon Pitard. Pitard’s former conglomerate, Steller Property Group, collapsed in 2019 with debts of $617 million.
On October 27, offenders rammed the front gates of Pitard’s Brighton mansion, poured accelerant along the driveway and destroyed two luxury cars in what police called a “targeted attack”. The motive remains unknown, but three underworld and property industry sources, speaking anonymously, said the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang was suspected of orchestrating the attack and was responsible for threats against her father’s aged care empire.
Detective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman said the Finks have been linked to acts of violence, arson and extortion. “My message to the Finks OMCG, and to any outlaw motorcycle gang that chooses to cause harm in our community, is very clear: if you choose to continue your involvement in serious and organised crime, Victoria Police is coming after you,” he said. Victoria Police declined to comment specifically on the presence at Arcare facilities, but said Operation Phoenix is conducting proactive patrols in the relevant areas.
Arcare state operations manager Prab Kaur wrote to residents’ families that the organisation had increased wellbeing support and security at Victorian and interstate sites. “Arcare has taken proactive steps to increase security at our Victorian and interstate sites. Victoria Police also increased surveillance and patrols since the incident,” she said in the letter. Kaur noted that there is an active police investigation and that Arcare had been directed not to disclose additional details. One source with knowledge of the ongoing threats said Knowles recently engaged several former members of the Australian Defence Force to provide close personal protection for his daughter and extended family. Knowles declined to comment when contacted.
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- SupportedMelbourne nursing homes are under police guard after the drive-by shooting.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Police are guarding at least seven aged care homes across Melbourne ... A drive-by shooting last week at one of the facilities, where a bullet hit the building, has sparked the police precaution”
- SupportedAt least seven Melbourne aged care homes are under police guard after a threat against Arcare businesses.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Police are guarding at least seven aged care homes across Melbourne ... after a threat was made against the businesses”
- SupportedTwo males dressed in black got out of a white SUV on Hampstead Road just before 4.30am on November 6 and fired about 10 shots before fleeing.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Officers were called to the scene after two males dressed in black, exited a white SUV on Hampstead Road just before 4.30am. Approximately 10 shots were fired before the pair fled the scene in the vehicle”
- SupportedA bullet hit the building, but nobody was physically injured.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “A bullet impacted the building, but nobody was physically injured during the incident.”
- SupportedThe shooting led to special protection measures, including armed police patrols, and Arcare employed private security guards at some homes.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The attack has led to special protection measures, including armed police patrols, in the days since the attack. ... Arcare has also employed several private security guards to guard some of its retirement homes.”
- SupportedThree anonymous underworld and property industry sources linked the Finks to the violence and said the gang was suspected of orchestrating the attack on Pitard’s home and responsible for threats against her father’s aged care business.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “This masthead was told by three sources, who asked not to be identified because of concerns for their safety, that the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang is suspected of orchestrating the attack on Pitard’s home, and is responsible for the threats against her father’s aged care empire.”
- SupportedOn October 27, offenders rammed the gates of Pitard’s Brighton mansion, poured accelerant along the driveway and destroyed two luxury cars in what police called a targeted attack; the motive remains unknown.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The motive for the attack remains unknown ... On October 27, several offenders rammed the front gates of the Manor Street residence and poured accelerant along the driveway and on two luxury cars, which were both destroyed in the early morning blaze.”
- SupportedArcare operates more than 60 residential aged care communities across Australia, providing accommodation for almost 5,000 elderly residents.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The company operates more than 60 residential aged care communities across the nation, which provide permanent accommodation for almost 5000 elderly residents.”
- SupportedArcare is part-owned by Russell Knowles, father of Skye Pitard, who is Simon Pitard’s wife; Steller Property Group, Simon Pitard’s former conglomerate, collapsed in 2019 with $617 million in debts.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Simon Schluter Pitard – whose former conglomerate, Steller Property Group, collapsed in 2019 with debts of $617 million”
- SupportedDetective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman said: “My message to the Finks OMCG, and to any outlaw motorcycle gang that chooses to cause harm in our community, is very clear: if you choose to continue your involvement in serious and organised crime, Victoria Police is coming after you”.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““My message to the Finks OMCG, and to any outlaw motorcycle gang that chooses to cause harm in our community, is very clear: if you choose to continue your involvement in serious and organised crime, Victoria Police is coming after you,” Cheesman said on November 6.”
- Partly supportedKaur wrote that Arcare had increased wellbeing support and security at Victorian and interstate sites.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “said the organisation increased wellbeing support for residents, visitors and team members after the Maidstone incident ... “Arcare has taken proactive steps to increase security at our Victorian and interstate sites.””
- Partly supportedKaur noted an active police investigation and said Arcare had been directed not to disclose additional details.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Please keep in mind that there is an active police investigation and Arcare have been directed not to publicly disclose any additional details.””