Police arrested almost 30 people and recovered six stolen cars during a highly visible operation targeting car thieves and dangerous drivers in the state's far northwest.
Operation Dureta saw local units team up with specialist police including the Victoria Police Air Wing to saturate key locations in Mildura and target high-harm crime.
Detectives, Highway Patrol and general duties police from both Mildura and Dareton, New South Wales joined forces for the cross-border blitz which saw 28 people arrested for a range of offences including car theft, aggravated burglary, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Among those arrested were:
- Two Mildura men, aged 25 and 41, who were arrested after fleeing from a vehicle on Friday 11 September. Police first observed a Holden Commodore, with no headlights on, allegedly speeding on Ontario Avenue just after 2am. The Air Wing then tracked the vehicle and observed it allegedly reach 160km/h with no headlights on. Police on the ground attempted to intercept the vehicle near the New South Wales border however the driver failed to stop and continued on. Police then deployed stop sticks which successfully halted the vehicle. The two occupants fled on foot, jumping over multiple fences in an attempt to getaway, but were arrested shortly after without incident.
- A 25-year-old man and two women, aged 30 and 32, who were arrested in an allegedly stolen Toyota Landcruiser on Thursday 10 September. Officers on ground first observed the stolen vehicle travelling on Fourteenth Street, Mildura just after 10pm. The Air Wing tracked the vehicle from the sky and observed the driver allegedly drive on the wrong side of the road and over median strips through several residential and rural streets. The car pulled over in Buxton-Sobee Park and three occupants fled into a nearby property. Police established a cordon and arrested the trio, all from Mildura, without incident. The alleged male driver was remanded to appear before Mildura Magistrates' Court on 29 September. The two women were charged and bailed to appear before court at a later date.
- A 41-year-old Mildura woman who allegedly stole a Volkswagen Tiguan from a home in Mildura about 5.50pm on 12 September. As police were responding to the incident, they observed the stolen car allegedly travelling on Tenth Street. Police attempted to intercept the car, but the driver failed to stop and continued at speed. The Air Wing tracked the vehicle to an address in Mildura and guided officers on ground to the location of two occupants. The woman and a male passenger were arrested, and she was later charged with a range of offences including aggravated burglary and car theft.
During the operation, police also issued 15 infringement notices for traffic offences including unlicensed driving and drink driving and a further two vehicles were impounded.
Operation Dureta ran overnight between 9 and 12 September and will be stood up again in the near future.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity or has information about vehicle crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Liam Tinkler, Mildura Crime Investigation Unit:
"While the community slept, police were out in numbers patrolling the Mildura area from both the ground and the sky to catch offenders putting our roads at risk.
"Combining our local knowledge with the capability of the Air Wing gave offenders no place to hide with 28 arrests in just four nights.
"You won't know when Operation Dureta is running next, so we'd strongly suggest anyone thinking of stealing cars, evading police or driving dangerously in Mildura to think again.
"There is no outrunning the Air Wing."
