Police from Epping have arrested a man and seized a firearm following a check of a vehicle in Bundoora this morning.
Officers were on patrol, as part of Operation Trinity, when a cars brake lights caught their attention in an empty shopping centre carpark on Plenty Road about 2.30am.
Police spoke with the male driver and passenger before enquiries revealed the passenger was wanted by police in relation to another matter.
A search of the 18-year-old uncovered an alleged imitation firearm which has been seized by police.
The Fitzroy North teen has been charged with possess imitation firearm, possess a schedule 4 poison and theft of motor vehicle and theft following an aggravated burglary in Malvern East last week.
He has been bailed to appear before court later this year.
Operation Trinity is a dedicated city-wide operation in place targeting aggravated burglaries and associated car thefts, which increased markedly post the pandemic.
This has been driven by predominantly youth offenders targeting unlocked homes, with the intention of stealing car keys.
Local police from Southern Metro, North West Metro and inner eastern Melbourne are teaming up as part of the ongoing metropolitan wide operation.
Specialist police units, including Air Wing, Dog Squad, and Public Order Response Team, also assist on a nightly basis in tracking the movements of offenders.
