Yarra police have arrested more than 20 people as part of a recent operation designed to curb an anticipated increase in opportunistic offending as restrictions ease.
Operation Mill, which ran from 6 to 19 December, involved Yarra's local police and Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) working with the Mounted Branch, Highway Patrol and Transit police to patrol the area, gather intelligence, and detect and deter criminal activity.
During the course of the operation:
25 people were arrested for a range of offences including theft, criminal damage, affray and bail related offences.
Of the total arrests, 19 were for drug related offending, including five for trafficking drugs.
Police conducted 28 bail compliance checks to ensure those in the area on bail were complying with their conditions.
Police executed three search warrants.
A total of 24 infringement notices were issued for traffic offences, as police targeted dangerous driving.
The Mounted Branch weren't horsing around when conducting patrols as part of Operation Mill. On 10 December, specialist police on horseback arrested a man who was wanted by the Yarra CIU, Port Phillip CIU and Swan Hill CIU for allegedly stealing from cars on multiple occasions.
The 32-year-old Reservoir man was subsequently charged with over 30 offences including theft of, and theft from motor vehicles. He was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 7 January 2021.
The Yarra Tasking Unit and CIU also made no apologies when they executed a warrant in Richmond on 15 December. Police located approximately 50 grams of what is believed to be heroin and over $60,000 in cash.
A 38-year-old Richmond man was subsequently charged with trafficking a drug of dependence, possessing a drug of dependence and dealing with the property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court at a later date.
Yarra police along with the support of specialist units will continue to target those causing harm in the community to ensure offenders are held to account and community safety is upheld.
Anyone in the community with information about criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Quotes attributable to Yarra Crime Investigation Unit Senior Sergeant Gary Maddern
"Operation Mill is an example of the proactive, ongoing response that criminals looking to prey on others and cause harm in the community can expect to continue to see from police."
"As always, police rely heavily on the information supplied by the community and we encourage anyone with knowledge of criminal activity to come forward with this information to Crime Stoppers."
