Police chopper swoops on minibus following attempted home invasion in Cranbourne North

Dramatic footage has emerged of a police chopper tracking down a minibus following an attempted home invasion in Melbourne’s southeast.

Dramatic footage has emerged of a police chopper tracking down a minibus following an attempted home invasion in Melbourne’s southeast.

Police arrested a group of five men aged 35 to 57 on Tuesday night who are accused of trying to break into a Cranbourne North home on Tuesday night.

Police received reports of a group of men gathered outside a Strzelecki Court home at around 11.15pm who allegedly shouted threats at the residents and demanded entry in what police believe was a targeted attack.

The group is believed to have made their way around to the back of the property before allegedly stealing a dirt bike.

Police allege the group loaded the bike into the back of an allegedly stolen Toyota Coaster Minibus before taking off.

A man flees from a minibus after it was tracked down by the Air Wing. Picture: Vic Pol

With officers on the ground and in the air, police were able to track down the minibus and deploy stop sticks to bring the minibus to a halt at the intersection of South Gippsland Highway and Thompsons Road.

Footage shows the police Air Wing honing in on the minibus before a man wearing a singlet and shorts runs from the vehicle toward a nearby building.

Officers quickly located the man and arrested him.

Police arrested a man following a pursuit through Cranbourne North. Picture: Vic Pol

The three other men, who did not attempt to flee the minibus and instead surrendered to police, were arrested at the scene.

The police chopper also helped locate a Ford Territory in the nearby area that had been seen with the minibus. The 49-year-old driver of that vehicle was also arrested.

Police charged one of the men with theft of a motor vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. He was bailed and will appear before the Dandenong Magistrates court on May 26.

The other four men — two from Cranbourne aged 49 and 37, and two from Berwick both aged 57 — are expected to be charged on summons.

Police believe the man targeted the Strzelecki Court home and are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Originally published as Police chopper swoops on minibus following attempted home invasion in Cranbourne North