An attempted ram raid on a Pinjarra petrol station by masked offenders and a violent theft on a woman crabbing in Mandurah could be linked to a larger series of burglaries across the Wheatbelt.
Mandurah Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Troy said four offenders wearing white clothing and masks ram-raided Vibe Petrol Station with a white Ford Ranger, about 3am on Monday.
The offenders failed to gain entry but damaged the door and roller shutter.
Senior Sergeant Troy said the vehicle was abandoned at Ludlow Loop in Pinjarra, where a burglary was committed overnight and two vehicles were stolen.
"The garage roller doors were forced open and the offenders stole keys and wallets, stealing a white hatchback and a dark-coloured SUV," he said.
Senior Sergeant Troy said Wheatbelt Detectives have been investigating a series of burglaries and car thefts, believed to be by the same offenders.
On May 12, a stolen vehicle was found abandoned in Dalwallinu, which was connected to a burglary in Wongan Hills.
The violent theft on the woman was out of the ordinary and a considerably brazen theft.
- Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Troy
The car was also suspected to be linked to a burglary at a Mundaring business and a Toodyay business on the same date.
Further, a white Ford Ranger, believed to be the same car used in the Pinjarra incident, and a Toyota Landcruiser, were stolen from separate homes in Wongan Hills on May 13.
The offenders using the Ford Ranger are believed to have stolen fuel from Lakes Roadhouse on Great Eastern Highway on Monday, before trespassing on a property in Landsdale about 1.30pm.
Senior Sergeant Troy said he was not ruling out a link between a "brazen theft" on a woman crabbing and the other incidents.
The women were approached by two of the men who claimed to be from the Fisheries Department and asked to check the size of their crabs.
About 9pm on Monday, two Bayswater women, aged 36 and 49, were crabbing at Peel Parade in Coodanup.
Senior Sergeant Troy said the women noticed three men collecting items from the bush and placing them into a white hatchback, driven by a female.
The women were approached by two of the men, who claimed to be from the Department of Fisheries and asked to check the size of their crabs.
Senior Sergeant Troy said the 36-year-old woman became suspicious and started filming the men on her phone, before one of the men pushed her over and stole the phone, which contained a bank card inside the cover.
The card was used twice overnight.
Senior Sergeant Troy said the forensics team and detectives were investigating both incidents, and would retrieve CCTV footage from the petrol station.
"The violent theft on the woman was out of the ordinary and a considerably brazen theft," he said.
"We are asking anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage from Peel Parade in Coodanup, about 9pm, or Pinjarra near the Petrol Station around 3pm, to provide footage to police."
If you can assist, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
