Western Region Crime Squad detectives have charged a further two people allegedly linked to a series of offending across western and eastern Victoria.
As part of the investigation, detectives located an allegedly stolen Jeep in Delacombe at about 12pm on 3 January.
Whilst conducting enquiries, another allegedly stolen Nissan with a woman behind the wheel parked in the vicinity of detectives.
Officers attempted to intercept the Nissan, which evaded police, but not before driving over stop sticks strategically placed by officers.
Detectives didn’t pursue the Nissan but instead entered a property police suspected linked to the stolen Jeep on Chifley Drive and arrested a male in relation to the ongoing investigation.
Approximately 10 minutes later, police were called to reports of a car fire in Mount Clear.
Detectives attended the fire to investigate and saw the stolen Nissan ablaze.
They located a woman hiding in thick shrubbery nearby who was subsequently arrested.
A 32-year-old man from Sebastopol will face more than 20 charges including:
• burglary
• theft
• theft of motor vehicle
• offences against the bail act
A 26-year-old woman from Creswick will have to answer six charges including:
• theft
• theft of motor vehicle
• driving and bail offences
The couple have been remanded in custody to appear before Ballarat Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
The Jeep was allegedly stolen in Werribee on 30 November.
The Nissan was allegedly stolen in Wodonga on 26 November.
Four people were charged last week in relation to the investigation, which includes the theft of up to 10 high-end vehicles from Ballarat, Horsham, Shepparton, Wodonga, Cobram, Wangaratta, Deer Park and Yarrawonga, remains ongoing.
