Three Irish nationals have faced court after allegedly stealing $1 million worth of cash, jewellery and designer handbags during dozens of robberies.
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Victoria Police will allege the men, aged 19, 24 and 25, carried out a spate of "sophisticated residential burglaries" this year.
The trio - named in court as Christie McDonagh, Michael McDonagh and James Connors - broke into homes in Melbourne's east while residents were away and then tried to cover their tracks with cleaning products, police will allege.
They were arrested at a hotel near Melbourne Airport on Thursday and charged with multiple counts of aggravated home invasion, aggravated burglary, burglary and theft from a motor vehicle.
The men faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, where they did not apply for bail and were remanded in custody to face a committal case conference on August 9.
Lawyers told the court all three of the men were in custody for the first time.
Police will allege they were part of a wider syndicate which led to the arrests of three other Irish men in March.
"Investigators are continuing to probe whether both groups are linked to any other unsolved burglaries," a police spokesperson said.
Investigations into both groups of men remain ongoing and anyone with information has been urged to come forward.
Australian Associated Press
