Cameras capture moment police catch up with car detailer accused of deceiving dozens of customers

A Current Affair has captured the moment police caught up with a car detailing business accused of ripping off 70 alleged victims.

Sam Baravelli's business Sam the Man Car Care in Melbourne's inner-west paints a professional picture online - spruiking car detailing, polishing, dent repairs and bodywork.

But his alleged victims claim you won't get your car back, or your money.

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Customer Josh Williams' Nissan Skyline R34 was his pride and joy until he alleges Baravelli trashed it.

"All of the paint protection has been taken off it, there's quite a few more scratches than were originally there," Williams explained.

"My interior's absolutely trashed. There's stains everywhere."

The 19-year-old's bank transactions show he handed over his entire savings to Baravelli - a total of $17,194.50.

The apprentice mechanic said he got suspicious when a four week job blew out to almost two months.

"He said there's more to be done, I told him I wouldn't pay for it ... If I stopped paying him, he wouldn't give me my car back," Williams said.

"I mainly just want my money back and I want to see his business shut down forever."

Ferrari owner Andrian said he paid the Footscray business a $2800 deposit for a yellow vinyl wrap, only to find his luxury car damaged.

"It was in perfect condition ... Zagame said it's going to cost $76,000 to fix it," Andrian said.

After his phone calls to Baravelli went unanswered, he said his wife had to pose as a new customer to confirm Sam the Man Car Care was still operating.

In January, Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich issued an official public warning about Baravelli's business, after the watchdog received over 70 separate complaints from different members of the public.

"Not only were there breaches of consumer law, but there was also just potentially outright theft of vehicles occurring," Rich said.

"We were very worried about Sam the Man Car Care based on the reports we were receiving from Victorian consumers about what was going on and I formed the view we needed to warn the public as a matter of urgency."

With a growing list of alleged victims and allegedly stolen cars, Victoria Police detective senior sergeant Megan O'Sullivan said it was time to charge Baravelli.

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A Current Affair was there when Victoria Police pounced.

"Some of the (alleged) victims were without vehicles and having to hire vehicles in order to get to work and go about their daily business, so it's had a huge impact on (them)," O'Sullivan said.

When A Current Affair approached Baravelli, he told us he had been locked out of his panel shop and said claims he took customers' money and didn't fix their cars were "false accusations".

"I've tried to explain it as best I can because I feel like I owe the community a bit ... to answer your questions," Baravelli said.

"I never had the intention of taking anyone's car to do anything.

"All of the cars that are in there have had work done ... they've had work done on the road."

After swooping on 'Sam the Man', detectives searched two homes where they found 17 car keys, three mobile phones and seized documents.

Police also sent a tow truck into Baravelli's business, seizing 12 allegedly stolen cars and another three were recovered elsewhere.

Police have charged Baravelli with 33 counts of car theft and 33 counts of obtaining property by deception.

They allege Baravelli had no intention of carrying out the services on his alleged victims' cars.

Authorities also believe he kept taking on work after he was evicted from his premises, going to customers' houses to pick up their cars.

But even while being arrested, Baravelli stood by the quality of his work.

"Any business owner out there knows it's very hard to get three years of five star reviews, straight five star reviews - it's nearly impossible!" he said.

Baravelli has been granted bail to reappear in court on June 20.

If you have had dealings with Sam the Man Car Care, you can contact Consumer Affairs Victoria and Crimestoppers.