Police launch probe into suspected hit of father with underworld connections

Footage of a stolen orange Ford ute in Melbourne's southeast could hold the key to solving a suspected underworld hit on a father of four.

Mitat Rasimi, 51, was found dead with gunshot wounds in his car after crashing into a pole on Dawn Avenue at Dandenong about 10pm on March 3.

Police released vision today of the Ford Ranger driving in the area with the hope that someone will recognise the vehicle and help crack the case.

Rasimi was having coffee in a café on Lonsdale Street in Dandenong known to be frequented by members of Melbourne's Albanian community when he was spotted by the occupants of the ute, police believe.

The Ford, stolen a few days earlier from Melton, followed Rasimi as he drove home and the occupants fired a number of shots after he turned into his street.

About 20 minutes after Rasimi's body was found, a man was spotted trying to set the stolen vehicle on fire on Mcmahens Raod at Bangholme – about 15 minutes' drive from the scene of the shooting - before fleeing in another car.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said Rasimi had connections with a number of criminal organisations, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, but refused to give details.

Victoria police are unsure how many offenders were in the stolen car.

"Over the past seven months, police have put a significant amount of work into trying to determine who wanted Mitat dead and why," Det Stamper said.

"Mitat was known to police and he had connections to a number of organised crime groups, however the exact motivation for the shooting is still unclear.

"Investigators strongly believe it was targeted but we don't know who is responsible."

Police want to speak to people in the Albanian community who knew what Rasimi's movements were prior to his death to try to piece together his final hours.

"It could be something really simple - you might have seen him at a shop, at a friend or associate's house, driving somewhere - any piece of information could help detectives," he said.

When asked if the meeting at the coffee shop was a set-up to lure Rasimi to the area, Det Stamper said it remained a "key line of inquiry".