Man charged over Ballarat cheque scam

A 47-year-old Creswick man has been charged following an investigation into a series of alleged cheque deceptions totalling more than $30,000 across the Ballarat area.

Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives allege a commercial business in Ballarat was burgled on 12 May, with a chequebook stolen during the incident.

Police allege three of the stolen cheques were cashed between 13 and 15 May, while a fourth cheque was allegedly presented at several Ballarat banks but was not successfully cashed.

Detectives further allege a second Ballarat business was burgled on 23 May, with another chequebook belonging to a different victim stolen.

Two cheques from that chequebook were allegedly cashed at Ballarat banks on 4 July.

As part of the investigation, detectives executed a search warrant at a Napier Street property in Creswick on Tuesday, 15 July, where a 47-year-old man was arrested.

The man has been charged with obtaining property by deception, handling stolen goods and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

He was bailed to appear before the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on 23 November.

Police allege the offending resulted in losses exceeding $30,000.

The investigation remains ongoing.