More than 30 dangerous road users and car thieves were arrested during a recent four-night operation in Brimbank.
The coordinated operation saw police disrupt a local hoon meet in Keilor Park, arrest an alleged drug trafficker who riding at up to 200km/h on a major freeway, and stopping a machete wielding car thief.
Operation Ghost is a regular nightly operation which sees local police work alongside the Public Order Response Team and Air Wing to target car thieves and dangerous driving in the area.
Local units including the Brimbank Neighbourhood Policing Team, Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit, Caroline Springs Crime Reduction Team and Brimbank Highway Patrol work alongside uniform police to saturate the area.
33 people were arrested throughout the operation for speeding, stolen vehicles and dangerous driving. 38 fines were also issued for driving offences.
Four drivers were detected speeding more than 45km/h over the limit, while seven were driving on a suspended or disqualified licence.
Police also detected six unregistered motor vehicles, three drink drivers and recovered one stolen car.
Six stolen or false numberplates were also recovered during the operation.
Key arrests included:
• A motorbike was observed by the Air Wing on the Western Ring Road, allegedly travelling of speeds up to 200km/h at about 10.10pm on 29 May. The motorbike was tracked by the Air Wing to a street in Essendon where it came to a stop. Officers from the Public Order Response Team arrived a short time later and arrested a 32-year-old Point Cook man. Upon further searches, police located approximately $16,400 in cash as well as cannabis and methyl amphetamine. He was charged with reckless conduct, drive at a dangerous speed, affix false registration plates, unlicensed driving, unregistered motor vehicle, traffick cannabis as well as the possession of methyl amphetamine, proceeds of crime and a controlled weapon. The Point Cook man was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 18 August.
• Just before 11pm on Friday 30 May, police received reports of an alleged hoon meet in Keilor Park with numerous vehicles performing burnouts. Several police units arrived in the area and the cars dispersed, with police intercepting four vehicles. One of the cars pulled over had an alleged cancelled registration and was impounded. The driver, a 22-year-old from Melton South, is expected to be charged on summons with driving in a dangerous manner, reckless conduct, driving p-plate prohibited vehicle and not driving to licence conditions.
• Police also recovered an outstanding stolen vehicle after observing it in St Albans at about 1.30am on 31 May. Officers initially approached the vehicle and attempted to intercept, before the car allegedly drove off. Nearby police units spotted the car where it continued onto the Calder Freeway, before driving off at the McNamara Avenue exit where police had deployed stop sticks. The car came to a stop nearby and the driver, a 27-year-old from Maidstone was arrested. A search of the vehicle uncovered a large machete. The Maidstone man was charged with a range of offences, including evade police and theft of motor vehicle. He was bailed to appear at court at a later date.
Operation Ghost ran from 28 to 31 May and more operations are planned in the future.
Quotes attributable to Brimbank Local Area Commander, Acting Inspector Kerrie Clarke:
"We, like the community, are rightly concerned about dangerous driving on our roads, including those stealing cars to further their offending.
"Vehicle crime is a huge priority for us, with offenders arrested weekly and stolen cars regularly being recovered.
"This was a successful operation leading to 33 offenders being arrested, but it is only one example of the many ways we are constantly targeting road safety, car thefts and burglaries in our community.
"Know that police are out every day and night looking to detect offenders, prevent offending and build our intelligence holdings.
"To anyone who thinks they can drive dangerously on our roads in stolen vehicles - let this be a reminder that you will be identified and police will ensure that you are held to account."
