More than 120 people have been arrested and close to 50 weapons seized in a summer safety blitz on train lines across Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
The effort sees police and PSOs rove the network to keep troublemakers on their toes on top of their usual static patrols.
It's proving so successful criminals have been complaining to each other on social media about the strong enforcement presence.
Operation Solstice, which began in November, is an initiative of Victoria Police's Transit East Local Area Command.
The operation centres on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Glen Waverley and Alamein train lines.
The 123 arrests so far include:
- A 28-year-old woman who had six kitchen knives and was in possession of several drugs of dependence;
- A 54-year-old man who allegedly stole a $5700 bike which was later returned to the owner;
- A 16-year-old boy charged with robbery; and
- A 31-year-old caught scrawling graffiti at a train station.
Police and PSOs - also patrolling with authorised officers- have issued 119 penalty notices for issues like anti-social behaviour and referred more than 30 people to support services.
Police and PSO used their powers under the Control of Weapons Act to seize 47 weapons.
More than 10,000 people have been spoken with.
The highly visible presence has received widespread support from commuters while police say online complaints from crooks shows it's actively altering offender behaviour and deterring criminal activity.
Additional resources such as the dog squad have been brought in to further boost safety while police and PSOs are helping people fit one-way screws to their vehicles to thwart thieves.
PSOs continue to have a dedicated daily presence at train stations and perform targeted, intelligence-led operations around-the-clock.
Operation Solstice runs until the end of March.
Quotes attributable to Acting Sen-Sgt Jonathan Allie, Transit East Local Area Command:
"This operation is all about making sure our police and PSOs leave no stone unturned in detecting and deterring crime.
"It's mobile, it's agile and it's keeping crooks on their toes.
"In fact, the operation is proving so successful we know criminals are complaining to each other about our enforcement activity.
"That shows we're not just tackling crime we're stopping it from happening in the first place.
"There's no doubt our rail network is safer for this enforcement effort and we'll continue doing all we can so people can travel in safety."
