Martin Chatfield, Arthur Freeman allegedly drove stolen car, stole petrol

Two men arrested through ACT Policing’s Operation Toric are the latest in a major crackdown on motor vehicle theft. Find out how many people have been apprehended in just four months.

Martin Chatfield and Arthur Freeman have faced court charged with driving a stolen motor vehicle. Police are searching for the missing vehicle. Picture: ACT Policing

A police operation targeting Canberra’s car thefts has apprehended nearly 150 people in less than six months.

ACT Policing’s Operation Toric, which targets offenders who commit motor vehicle theft and related driving offences, has apprehended 147 people since August.

The latest alleged offenders arrested through Operation Toric appeared at ACT Magistrates Court on Friday accused of stealing a red Mitsubishi FTO.

Police allege the car was stolen from an underground car park in Braddon on November 11.

They further allege the two men stole petrol from a Dickson service station while driving the car on the same day.

Two men have faced ACT Magistrates Court after being arrested through ACT Policing’s Operation Toric.

Lyons man Martin Ashley Chatfield is charged with driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police, improper use of a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle without consent, and aggravated dangerous driving.

When Mr Chatfield made a bid for bail, Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter said he had recently been released on parole after being sentenced for similar driving offences in May.

The magistrate said the alleged car thief had a lengthy criminal record, including numerous driving, family violence and property offences.

A police officer who took the stand during Chatfields’s bail consideration said he saw the men driving the car while on patrol in Belconnen.

ACT Policing are still searching high and low for a stolen red Mitsubishi FTO. Picture: ACT Policing.

He said the drivers failed to stop for police, however, officers received CCTV footage from inside and outside the Calwell Woolworths, and it depicted Chatfield leaving the car.

Ms Hunter said while Mr Chatfield was innocent until proven otherwise, his prior offending could inform her about the potential risk he posed if released on bail.

She said prosecutors had a strong case against him and denied him bail.

Chatfield’s alleged partner-in-crime, Turner man Arthur Bruce Thomas Freeman, 31, was charged with making off without payment and riding in a motor vehicle without consent.

Mr Freeman was on bail for a string of unrelated driving offences: three counts of driving a motor vehicle without consent, making off without payment, driving unlicensed and minor theft.

Ms Hunter also denied him bail.

Both men will return to court this month.

Police are still searching for the stolen car, which police believe may still have the ACT number plate YIP08R.

People with information about the car’s location are encouraged to call crime stoppers quoting 72733596.