A Thomastown family is being terrorised by at least two gunmen in what police say are targeted attacks against them.
The family, who do not wish to be identified, have been shot at five times within the last seven months.
Detective Senior Constable Matthew McKenzie said the shootings first took place between November 23 and 25, where the gunman and another person police believe was the getaway driver fired several bullets from a car at three different properties.
Detective Senior Constable McKenzie said the properties included two family homes in Chateau Court, Thomastown and Vanbrook Drive, Mill Park, as well as the family caravan business in Metrolink Circuit, Campbellfield.
Police have released chilling CCTV footage of the fourth shooting, which took occurred on December 15 at the Chateau Court home, showing the gunman knocking on the front door and introducing himself as ‘Johnny’.
It is understood a man in his 60s, believed to be the grandfather looking after his three grandchildren, opened the door and asked the offender who ‘Johnny’ was.
The gunman then pulled out a handgun and fired several shots through the door, narrowly missing the victim and damaging the walls instead. The victim’s wife and their three grandchildren – all aged under 10 – were asleep at the time of the shooting. No one was injured.
Detective Senior Constable McKenzie said this fourth shooting was the most concerning, as it showed that the gunman intended to harm or kill someone.
‘‘I believe he came to the house with the intention to hurt someone, and [that it was not] just a scare tactic,’’ he said.
‘‘[The shootings] have escalated from a series of drive-by shootings from a distance, to knocking on the door and firing a shot at someone behind the door at waist height.”
On February 5, several shots were once again fired at the house.
Detective Senior Constable McKenzie said the family was ‘‘a good family, a hardworking family, who have had no involvement with police other than being the victims of these crimes.’’
He said detectives have interviewed five people, two of whom are linked to the Comancheros.
Although no one has been arrested, Detective Senior Constable McKenzie confirmed those interviewed remained persons of interest.
The family, who have not been moved from their homes, have taken precautions to protect themselves against any further attacks.
“They’ve had to alter their day to day activities, and they are always very wary about what’s going on in their surroundings, and they certainly have a fear of further attacks,’’ he said.
‘‘Until we lock the people up who we believe are responsible, and take those firearms off them, there’s certainly a percentage that it could happen again.’’
