By Alesha Capone
Two ongoing police operations in the west have led to more than 850 arrests for crimes including armed robbery and aggravated home invasion, since May last year.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said 659 people had been arrested as a result of Operation Regnant since it started, while 197 people had been arrested as part of Operation Wayward in the past 17 months.
Operation Regnant includes police patrols within Wyndham, Brimbank and Melton, while Operation Wayward has been focused on crimes including aggravated burglaries and carjackings in Wyndham, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Melton and Hobsons Bay areas.
The police spokeswoman said the Wayward taskforce was responsible for managing 78 “at-risk persons of interest”, including 31 currently in custody.
Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton, speaking to radio station 3AW last week, said police were “continuing to arrest the same people again and again” and that a “core group” were continuously re-offending.
He said police had increased night patrols in Wyndham and were engaging with offender’s families to ensure they comply with bail conditions.
Mr Ashton was speaking after police released details of an aggravated home invasion in Habitat Court, Tarneit, on August 17.
In that incident, four male youths followed a woman inside her house after she parked her car in the garage about 8.20pm.
The youths, who were described as African in appearance, ransacked the property.
One of the youths produced a machete and punched the woman in the face before demanding her vehicle, a black 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sedan.
The youth drove away in the car, while his three companion fled on foot.
The 34-year-old woman sustained facial injuries and was treated at the scene.
In a separate series of incidents, Wyndham police are investigating four burglaries at primary and secondary schools in Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook during August.
Senior Sergeant Aaron Riches said the offenders, who have been described as Caucasian youths, were on pushbikes and had stolen “soft drinks, food, anything that’s not bolted down” from the schools.
He said the burglaries tended to be committed after 8pm and the offenders usually gained access to school buildings via windows.
He encouraged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
