Cade Lucas
Five children travelling in a stolen car were among more than 30 allegedly dangerous road users and car thieves caught by police during an overnight operation in Wyndham.
Operation Shows – a regular nightly operation – involves local police working alongside specialist units including the air wing, dog squad and highway patrol to target car thefts and subsequent dangerous driving in the area.
Among the most serious offences detected during the operation was when a stolen car allegedly failed to stop for police in Hoppers Crossing just after midnight on Thursday, May 2.
The air wing followed the car from above – observing it travel to Laverton – before officers on the ground successfully deployed stop sticks on Old Geelong Road.
Five children aged between 15 and 17 were arrested and charged with theft of motor vehicle, theft from motor vehicle and handling stolen goods.
A further 26 people were caught up with by police on the night of Wednesday, May 1 including:
• A 29-year-old man who was arrested in Point Cook on an outstanding warrant for allegedly stealing a car in Werribee in February;
• A 24-year-old motorbike rider who allegedly failed to stop for police on Palmers Road in Williams Landing before running a red light about 9.45pm. The air wing followed from above, observing the rider allegedly reach speeds of 170km/h, before officers on the ground moved in and arrested him out of the front of his Tarneit address. The man had his bike impounded and is expected to be charged on summons with driving unregistered, driving unlicensed, disobeying a red light and exceeding the speed limit;
• A 31-year-old motorbike rider who was observed allegedly travelling at speed with no headlights on in Hoppers Crossing about 10pm. The air wing followed from above before officers on the ground arrested him at his Hoppers Crossing address. The man had his bike impounded and is expected to be charged on summons with driving unregistered, driving with no headlights and exceeding the speed limit; and
• An 18-year-old New South Wales man was caught allegedly travelling about 30km over the speed limit in Werribee about 10pm. He had his vehicle impounded and is expected to be charged on summons with driving unlicensed, driving unregistered and speeding.
A total of 192 vehicles were checked during Operation Shows, with 41 intercepted, 21 fines issued and five vehicles impounded.
“While the community slept, we had scores of police patrolling the Wyndham area from both the ground and the sky,” said Wyndham Local Area Commander Inspector Rachel Van Someren of the overnight operation.
“With more than 30 offenders caught up with the message is clear – you can’t outrun the police air wing. The community can be assured we will continue to run targeted operations like shows to catch car thieves and remove reckless drivers from the roads.”
