Police in the north and west have arrested and charged 31 people across four days during an operation targeting street gangs and serious violent crime.
Operation Alliance saw uniformed and specialist police “saturate” the areas each night between Wednesday and Saturday, patrolling high volume crime areas, conducting compliance checks and apprehending outstanding offenders.
Out of the more than 30 people arrested, the offences they have been charged with include breach of bail, armed robbery, aggravated burglary, drug trafficking and theft-related matters.
Police checked 42 people with known gang affiliations across Wyndham and Brimbank.
Three cars were impounded and officers also issued 32 fines for breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directions
On Thursday, police observed a vehicle in Tarneit that was linked to an alleged armed robbery earlier in the week in Werribee.
The incident related to two young males who allegedly had their mobile phones and clothing items stolen after being approached by two other males during the evening of Sunday, October 10 at a park.
After observing the vehicle, Wyndham Crime Investigation Unit detectives – along with Highway Patrol – deployed tyre-deflation tactics on Heaths Road and the vehicle eventually came to a stop in Papillon Parade.
Four offenders fled on foot, but police quickly arrested three of them nearby.
An 18-year-old Tarneit male was charged with armed robbery, assault police and breaching a court order.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
A 21-year-old Point Cook male was also charged with resist police and breaching a court order and was remanded in custody to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court.
A third male was released pending further inquiries.
Superintendent David Jones said the operations like Alliance “significantly improve community safety and reduce serious and violent offences being committed in the area”.
“Our work in this area does not stop – we will continue to monitor any persons of interest and regularly perform bail compliance checks, holding them to account,” he said.
“These results as part of Operation Alliance were part of a combined effort by local police officers and detectives from the Brimbank and Melton local area commands, Wyndham Crime Investigation Unit, Gang Crime Squad and the Dog Squad.”
