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.
A 52-year-old woman sustained serious burns after the Bay Road property was firebombed in a pre-dawn attack on October 28.
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.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce was investigating the Cheltenham attack, along with the firebombing of Pitard’s home in Brighton and a drive-by shooting at an Arcare aged care centre in Maidstone.
The police spokesman also confirmed the victims of the Cheltenham attack had no links to Pitard.
This masthead can also reveal the campaign of threats and violence against Pitard began more than two years ago, when he was viciously bashed in April 2024.
Three underworld and property industry sources, who asked not to be identified because of safety concerns, said Pitard required reconstructive surgery to his face following the assault.
In 2022, Pitard was banned from managing any corporation for 3½ years, following the collapse of Steller Property Group in 2019 with debts of $617 million. The 44-year-old was director of more than 40 companies that were placed into liquidation.
Pitard co-founded Steller Group with Melbourne businessman Nicholas Smedley who were involved in the redevelopment of the Continental Hotel in Sorrento when the company spectacularly collapsed in 2019.
Despite being pursued by a conga-line of creditors, Pitard maintained his lavish lifestyle and continued to reside in a Brighton mansion registered under the name of his wife, Skye Pitard.
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.
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.
The campaign of intimidation targeted at Pitard took an unexpected turn last week, when his father-in-law’s aged-care empire came under attack.
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.
This masthead revealed earlier this week that Victoria Police immediately deployed officers to protect other aged-care centres operated by Arcare, with police cars stationed outside homes across Melbourne.
Police cars were parked outside two homes, while private guards patrolled two other centres earlier this week.
On Wednesday night, a police van was spotted outside an Arcare address in the inner east.
Less than a day after the Maidstone shooting, the Finks were identified as an “organised crime priority” by Victoria Police, which formed a specialist taskforce to target the gang.
Detective Superintendent Wayne Cheesman put the gang on notice, but made no reference to the attack on the Arcare facility, or Pitard’s home.
“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.”
But no arrests have been made almost a week after the drive-by shooting in Maidstone, while the deployment of marked police cars, vans and cameras outside several aged-care centres places further strain on the force’s resources.
A source, with knowledge of the threats, said Knowles had recently engaged several former members of the Australian Defence Force to provide “close personal protection services” for his daughter and extended family.
A letter to residents’ families from Arcare state operations manager Prab Kaur, sent on Monday, said the organisation had increased wellbeing support for residents, visitors and staff after the Maidstone incident, adding that it was also working closely with police and regulators.
Simon and Skye Pitard have been approached for comment.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
