An 18-year-old apprentice carpenter in Werribee, Melbourne’s west, has located suspected thieves using the tracking feature on his stolen Apple AirPods, but police response has left him waiting outside their home for days.
Multiple Break-Ins Target Work Ute
Blake Mendola’s work ute, parked outside his family home, has fallen victim to thieves several times. Six months ago, crooks stole over $10,000 in tools that he had saved for himself. Insurance covered the loss, prompting him to avoid leaving valuables in the vehicle.
On the night of February 26-27, thieves struck again between 9:30 p.m. and 5:45 a.m. They discarded replacement tools on the front lawn and took a soccer bag with $400 worth of gear, including $300 boots, plus AirPods and glasses.
DIY Investigation Pinpoints Location
Using Apple’s Find My app, Mendola traced the AirPods to a nearby house. “I thought I’d call the police and they could just go down there and get my stuff back,” Mendola stated. “I told them exactly where they were and they told me to sit tight and they’d deal with it.”
Instead of immediate action, he staked out the address for days amid unanswered calls. His mother, Nicole Mendola, explained the caution in their rough neighborhood. “Blake was so upset that day,” she said. “He had a soccer game the next day and had to wear his dirty old pair of boots.”
She highlighted his dedication as a third-year apprentice with early starts and long days, noting the thefts’ impact.
Police Launch Ongoing Probe
Victoria Police confirm investigators are examining the incident where unknown offenders took items from the parked ute. “The victim woke to find items including AirPods, bags, tools and glasses missing before reporting the matter to police,” a spokesperson stated. “The investigation is ongoing.”
The family expresses frustration over the lack of follow-up despite providing the precise location. “It’s just disgusting how Blake had told them that he had the exact location and they couldn’t make the time to go there,” Nicole Mendola said.
Vehicle Thefts Surge in Melbourne’s West
Break-ins at motor vehicles plague Melbourne’s west, especially Wyndham municipality, where incidents rose 34% in the latest period, logging thousands of cases. Across Victoria, 86,600 vehicle thefts occurred in the 12 months to September 30, 2025, an increase of 18,577.
This category ranks among the fastest-growing crimes, alongside retail thefts and vehicle steals, fueling Victoria’s overall crime rise.
Expert Cites Resource Strains and Legal Hurdles
Criminal lawyer George Balot of Balot Reilly Criminal Lawyers notes stretched policing resources in Melbourne’s west. “Policing resources in parts of Melbourne’s west are stretched extremely thin,” he said. Local stations prove hard to reach, even for lawyers seeking court materials.
Balot explains location data alone may not suffice for search warrants. “Officers must still establish reasonable grounds and, in many cases, obtain a warrant before entering a residence,” he added. “That legal safeguard can create an understandable disconnect between what victims can see on their phones and what police are lawfully able to do.”
Authorities urge tips via Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
