Police search for men who desecrated crypt of Meshilin Marrogi, sister of underworld figure George Marrogi
Posted 7h ago7 hours ago, updated 1h ago1 hours ago
Meshilin Marrogi died in 2021 aged 30 after contracting COVID-19.(Vimeo)
abc.net.au/news/police-investigate-melbourne-crypt-george-meshilin-marrogi/103204976
Copy linkLink copied
Share article
Quick Read
- In short: Police have told Melbourne's underworld they can anonymously help them track down two men who desecrated the grave of a notorious criminal's sister.
- Police said there had been a "lot of speculation" in criminal circles over the break-in, which included the theft of a diamond ring.
- What's next? Police are concerned that the casket break-in will lead to reprisals of some sort, but do not expect copy-cat crimes.
The targeted call for information follows Victoria Police's move on Friday to publicise a gruesome casket break-in at a cemetery in Preston on July 30 when two men stole a diamond ring off the body of Meshilin Marrogi.
Ms Marrogi was the sister of convicted murderer and drug importer George Marrogi, and died in 2021 aged 30 after contracting COVID-19.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks from the Lunar Taskforce fronted media on Friday afternoon to explain why police were going public with a crime that was clearly intended to "cause friction and hurt to the brother of Meshilin".
"Ordinarily we wouldn't name a person in these circumstances but I think there's a public interest in doing so," he told reporters.
Two men were caught on CCTV breaking into a mausoleum at Preston General Cemetery.(Supplied: Victoria Police)
"We don't want the general public to think this anything other than a very targeted incident."
Inspector Banks explained police believed the men responsible for the desecration were linked to one of the primary syndicates involved in a series of arson attacks on tobacco shops across Melbourne this year.
He said the two cemetery thieves were acting on behalf of a high-level criminal based overseas, who was directing crime in Australia.
He said local underworld figures need not worry about identifying themselves.
"We specifically ask those that are outraged within the criminal fraternity to pass that information on. It can be done anonymously," he said.
George Marrogi has been jailed for both murder and charges related to running a drug syndicate.(Supplied)
Inspector Banks said he had seen all kinds of criminal reprisals between warring syndicates, but the coffin break-in was a "new low".
"I've never seen anything of this nature," he said.
"Parents who bury their child should not have to deal with this type of incident."
Police do not believe theft of a ring was the original intention of the break-in, but that the men had been intending to steal the corpse.
He said many within the broader criminal community would look upon the crime with "disdain" and the two men would therefore be at "significant risk" because of the anger their action had caused.
Detectives believe the desecration of a crypt at Preston General Cemetery was a targeted incident.(Supplied: Victoria Police)
The men were wearing gas masks and dark clothing with hooded jumpers at the time of the incident.
Police said one man had a larger build while the other one had a smaller build.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
