Almost 20 people have been arrested and four stolen vehicles recovered during a nightly operation targeting vehicle theft in Wyndham.
Operation Vista last week saw members from the Westgate Divisional Response Unit saturate the roads each night, scanning vehicles to detect stolen cars and motorbikes, and arresting individuals wanted on outstanding warrants.
Those arrested included four 16-year-old boys who allegedly fled from a stolen BMW which had crashed into a police vehicle in Truganina last Monday.
The vehicle was allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road when it crashed into the police car at a roundabout just after 9.20pm.
Police had been searching for the car after receiving reports of erratic driving in the area.
Two of the boys allegedly fled the scene and hid on the roof of a nearby property.
They were soon arrested when the Air Wing spotted them.
A man was arrested the same night after police observed a motorbike bearing stolen numberplates in Tarneit about 7.50pm.
Officers followed the bike – with checks revealing it too was stolen – to an address in Hoppers Crossing.
A 35-year-old man was arrested and later charged with theft of a motor vehicle and fraudulently use registration label.
Two nights later on Thursday, another man was arrested after police discovered a stolen Toyota sedan parked outside a hotel in Werribee about 10pm.
A 30-year-old man was arrested inside the hotel and later charged with theft of motor vehicle, possessing a controlled weapon in licensed premises and handling stolen goods.
A 41-year-old woman was also arrested but released pending further enquiries.
Throughout the operation officers checked more than 250 vehicles and executed 12 outstanding warrants and whereabouts for outstanding matters.
This included two boys – aged 16 and 17 -wanted for outstanding offences including robbery and aggravated burglary.
Officers found the boys in the back of a rideshare vehicle which police had intercepted in Point Cook just before 2am last Wednesday.
The pair was arrested and later remanded in custody.
A further 10 people were arrested during the operation for a range of offences including deception, possessing drugs and affray.
Operation Vista ran in the Wyndham area between 5 and 8 August.
Quotes attributable to Westgate Divisional Response Unit Detective Acting Sergeant Thomas Scott:
“We are heavily focused on vehicle theft in the Wyndham area.
“Every week we are arresting offenders and recovering stolen vehicles.
“Unfortunately, some people fall victim to these opportunistic crimes because their cars are left unlocked, so we’d like to remind the community to always ensure your vehicle is locked, even if it is parked in a secure driveway.
“The message is clear – if you’re travelling around in a stolen vehicle in Wyndham you can expect to be caught.”
