Police have charged a man following a spate of burglaries in Melton and Caroline Springs over the past month.
Detectives will allege commercial premises were targeted and significant damage occurred at a number of the sites.
Police say an offender allegedly forced his way into a store on Gourlay Road in Caroline Springs on Saturday, April 5.
Once inside they allegedly ransacked the store, stole cash and fled, only to return an hour later and set the store on fire.
At another incident the owner of a store in Coburns Road, Melton South was allegedly assaulted with a hammer after confronting an offender who had forced their way into the shop about 4.35am on Thursday, April 17.
The shop owner was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
Detectives charged a 35-year-old Melton South man with 18 counts of burglary, nine counts of theft, two counts of attempted burglary, criminal damage by fire and recklessly cause injury.
He was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates court.
