PLAYBOY AND THE APEX GANG

A PLAYBOY businessman is accused of paying young crime gangs for goods stolen during Melbourne’s wave of terrifying jewellery store robberies.

Flamboyant gold and diamond dealer Alex Mendieta was yesterday arrested at his Collins St business, Gold Buyers Melbourne, by Gangs Crime Squad police who have been tracing the proceeds of up to 33 rob- beries. Mr Mendieta, who flaunts his lifestyle on social media and was able to hire Delta Goodrem to sing at his 30th birthday, was late last night charged and released on bail.

The Herald Sun understands Mr Mendieta’s business had a turnover of more than $50 million in the first half of this year.

Detectives have for many months been investigating vicious armed robberies in which thugs — some connected with the notorious Apex Gang — have stormed jewellery stores across Melbourne, confronting staff with guns, machetes and baseball bats.

The Colombian-born Mr Mendieta, 31, lists himself as the “Big Boss” at Gold Buyers Melbourne.

A JETSETTING socialite and dealer in gold and diamonds has been arrested in connection with a series of smashand-grab robberies of jewellery stores across Melbourne.

Gangs Crime Squad detectives raided the Collins St store of flamboyant Colombianborn dealer Alex Mendieta, 31, yesterday.

Just before midnight police revealed Mr Mendieta had been charged with the possession of stolen goods, recklessly possessing stolen goods and handling stolen goods.

Police suspect Mr Mendieta received stolen goods from armed thugs who robbed 33 jewellery stores across greater Melbourne over the past year.

The terrifying daylight robberies involved young criminals, some of them connected to the Apex gang and on bail, confronting staff and customers with guns, machetes and baseball bats.

Several robberies led to high-speed police pursuits and dramatic arrests.

Police also suspect some of the goods were stolen during home invasions, which have recently plagued the state.

Arrested with Mr Mendieta were two Colombian nationals, aged 36 and 34, who last night were also charged with the same offences and released on bail. Police also executed warrants at residential properties in the CBD, Southbank and Caulfield North.

A Lamborghini was seized at a CBD address. Police also seized numerous items “believed to either be stolen or the proceeds of crime, including cash, gold and silver, precious stones and gold bullion’’.

Australian Taxation Office officials were also involved in yesterday’s operation.

Mr Mendieta lists himself as the “Big Boss’’ at Gold Buyers Melbourne. His Facebook account displays a lavish lifestyle.

He is shown sipping champagne on boats, in a pool at his St Kilda Rd penthouse, driving a Lamborghini, and travelling the world.

The Herald Sun understands the business, which has high-level security, had a turnover of more than $50 million in the first half of this year.

Detective Acting Commander Peter De Santo said 33 armed robberies had been carried out at jewellery stores across Melbourne in the past 12 months.

He said: “Even today, while the investigators were at the jewellery store in Collins St, we had known criminals attending to fence goods ... gold and jewels we suspect are proceeds of crime from recent aggravated burglaries and home invasions in Melbourne.”

Police could not give an estimate on the value of the seized goods.

Cdr De Santo said identifying where the jewels were being taken was important, so that robbers were unable to dispose of them.

He said the armed robberies “have a significant impact on victims — whether it’s those who are in the store or owners who are left with the loss of stock and damage.

“We understand there has been a lot of concern from business owners, as well as the wider community about this.”

He said the arrests highlighted the police force’s determination to stem the problem.

Cdr De Santo urged those in the trade to remain vigilant and contact police if they noticed anything suspicious.

Tony Fialides, co-owner of IMP Jewellery in Toorak — which has been robbed twice in the past year — said: “I’m very happy that some arrests have been made.

“If nobody was receiving these stolen goods, it would make it a lot less encouraging for the perpetrators to sell, so this is really positive. It is obviously a slow process for the police to build a case like this but they have done well.”