A 52-year-old woman suffered serious burns in a pre-dawn firebombing of a Cheltenham townhouse on October 28, which police believe was a case of mistaken identity, with the wrong property torched. Her 57-year-old partner was not injured. The attack is being investigated by police’s anti-bikie Echo Taskforce.
The mistaken-identity attack is one of a series of violent incidents targeting Pitard over the past two years. In April 2024, Pitard was viciously bashed and required reconstructive surgery to his face, according to underworld and property industry sources. On October 27, masked men rammed the gates of his Brighton home and doused accelerant over two luxury cars, which were destroyed in the blaze.
The campaign took an unexpected turn last week when masked men fired ten shots at the Arcare aged care centre in Maidstone on October 6, and residents awoke to the sound of gunfire. Arcare was co-founded by Russell Knowles, Pitard’s father-in-law, who holds a caveat registered against Pitard’s Brighton mansion.
Victoria Police immediately deployed officers to protect other Arcare aged care centres, with police cars stationed outside homes across Melbourne. Detective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman put the Finks on notice, warning: “My message to the Finks … 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 for you.” However, nearly a week after the shooting, no arrests have been made.
Police confirmed the woman injured in Cheltenham and her partner had no links to Pitard.
Simon Pitard, 44, was banned from managing corporations for three and a half years in 2022 after the collapse of Steller Property Group in 2019 with debts of $617 million. He continues to live in a Brighton mansion registered in his wife Skye Pitard’s name, with a caveat held by Knowles suggesting he has a financial stake in the property.
A source with knowledge of threats said Knowles had recently engaged several former Australian Defence Force members to provide close personal protection for his daughter and extended family. Arcare state operations manager Prab Kaur wrote to residents’ families on Monday, saying the organisation had increased wellbeing support for residents, visitors and staff.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Elderly residents and their families at aged care homes have been directly affected by violence, with homes placed under police guard.
- The campaign highlights the reach of organised crime into everyday community settings, raising concerns about public safety.
- Police resources are being stretched by the need to provide ongoing protection to multiple locations across Melbourne.
Background
The campaign of violence against property developer Simon Pitard began more than two years ago with a bashing that required reconstructive surgery. It has since escalated to include firebombings of Pitard's home and a drive-by shooting at an aged care centre associated with his father-in-law. Pitard was a director of more than 40 companies that collapsed with debts of $617 million, and was banned from managing corporations in 2022. The Finks outlaw motorcycle gang has been identified as an organised crime priority by Victoria Police, which formed a specialist taskforce to target the gang.
What to Watch
- Whether police make arrests in any of the connected attacks.
- Whether the intimidation campaign escalates further or expands to other targets.
- The outcome of Victoria Police's specialist taskforce targeting the Finks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe Cheltenham firebombing was a mistaken-identity attack linked to a bikie campaign against developer Simon Pitard.The Age - Latest News: “An innocent couple asleep in their Cheltenham townhouse were the unintended victims of a targeted campaign of violence by the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang against besieged property developer Simon Pitard.”
- SupportedThe campaign against Pitard dated back more than two years and took an unexpected turn with a drive-by shooting at an aged-care centre.The Age - Latest News: “This masthead can also reveal the campaign of threats and violence against Pitard began more than two years ago”
- SupportedA 52-year-old woman suffered serious burns in the Cheltenham firebombing on October 28.The Age - Latest News: “A 52-year-old woman sustained serious burns after the Bay Road property was firebombed in a pre-dawn attack on October 28.”
- SupportedPolice believe the Cheltenham attack was a case of mistaken identity, with the wrong property torched.The Age - Latest News: “The woman’s 57-year-old partner was not injured by the arson attack, which police believe was a case of mistaken identity with the wrong property being torched.”
- SupportedThe woman's 57-year-old partner was not injured.The Age - Latest News: “The woman’s 57-year-old partner was not injured by the arson attack”
- SupportedThe police anti-bikie Echo Taskforce was investigating the Cheltenham attack.The Age - Latest News: “A police spokeswoman confirmed the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce was investigating the Cheltenham attack”
- SupportedOn October 27, masked men rammed the gates of Pitard’s Brighton home and doused accelerant over two luxury cars, which were destroyed in the blaze.The Age - Latest News: “On October 27, several masked men rammed the front gates of Pitard’s residence on Manor Street and doused accelerant over two luxury cars, which were both destroyed in the blaze.”
- SupportedTwo masked men fired ten shots at the Arcare facility in Maidstone on October 6, waking residents.The Age - Latest News: “On October 6, elderly residents at the Arcare facility in Maidstone awoke to the sound of gunfire as two masked men in a white SUV fired ten shots at the home.”
- SupportedArcare was co-founded by Russell Knowles, Pitard’s father-in-law, who holds a caveat against Pitard’s Brighton mansion.The Age - Latest News: “Property records reveal her father, Russell Knowles, co-founder of Arcare Aged Care, holds a caveat registered against the property on Manor Road, suggesting he has a financial stake in the property.”
- SupportedDetective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman warned the Finks and other outlaw motorcycle gangs that Victoria Police would pursue them if they continued involvement in serious and organised crime.The Age - Latest News: ““My message to the Finks … 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 for you.””
- SupportedNearly a week after the Maidstone shooting, no arrests had been made.The Age - Latest News: “But no arrests have been made almost a week after the drive-by shooting in Maidstone”
- SupportedPolice confirmed the Cheltenham victims had no links to Pitard.The Age - Latest News: “The police spokesman also confirmed the victims of the Cheltenham attack had no links to Pitard.”