Police have arrested five people – including three children – under Operation Trinity, following two incidents in the early hours of this morning.
Just before 1am, Trinity police units responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle being driven along Bowman Drive, Mill Park.
It will be alleged the stolen Toyota RAV4 was also displaying false plates and reached speeds of up to 135km/h on Dalton Road, Thomastown.
The SUV was tracked by Airwing, before the pair exited the vehicle and fled on foot along Harding Street, Thomastown. They were arrested soon after.
The alleged driver – a 20-year-old man from Mernda – was charged with seven offences, including theft of motor vehicle, forge registration plate, drive unlicensed, evade police, dangerous driving and handle stolen goods.
A 32-year-old male passenger from Mill Park was charged with possess methylamphetamine and other drug of dependence and handle stolen goods.
Both were bailed to appear in Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on 14 August.
In a separate incident, police then responded to an alleged trespass incident at a home on Carrington Street, Balwyn.
Three boys – one aged 14 and two aged 15 – were arrested in Mont Albert North and were released pending summons.
Operation Trinity, which runs every single night until dawn is Victoria Police’s most well-resourced frontline policing operation at present.
There are 70 additional police rostered each night, on top of existing patrols.
This includes frontline officers, Highway Patrol members, the Dog Squad, Public Order Response Team, and Air Wing.
As a result of this intense focus, police have made over 1,400 arrests relating to burglaries and car thefts – with the overwhelming majority of these offenders’ children. A further 2300 night shift arrests have also been made for other criminal offending due to the strong police presence as part of Operation Trinity.
