Police arrest crooks carrying weapons at Northland shopping centre

Police swarmed on a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north, making multiple arrests, as part of a planned operation to catch crooks carrying weapons.

Police carried out a special operation targeting weapons at a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north during late night shopping.

Police are cracking down on crooks carrying weapons at a popular shopping centre in Melbourne’s north, arresting three people and fining many more during a targeted operation to improve safety.

Northland shopping centre in Preston was declared as part of a special operation zone under the Control of Weapons Act on July 6, with more than 50 officers swarming the centre.

During the operation, police were authorised to exercise a variety of powers, without a warrant, with the intent to stop members of the public and search for weapons.

Police had the power to search any person, possessions, vehicles with a person inside or empty vehicles.

Officers also were able to seize and detain any item suspected to be a weapon.

During the operation, police arrested three men, seized three knives and issued more than 30 infringements.

One man was arrested for drug possession.

Shoppers were confronted by a high police presence from 1pm to 11pm, with the usual late night shopping taking on a very different atmosphere.

Police also searched 149 cars during the operation and searched 90 people.

The operation comes as the Preston area recently recorded one of the highest incidents of crime of any Melbourne shopping centre.

According to Victoria Police, there will be more targeted operations in the Preston area.

Victoria Police Mill Park sergeant Daniel Bonnici said carrying weapons in public spaces would not be tolerated.

“In an ideal world, we would never have to run these operations, but the reality is a small number of people do choose to carry weapons.

“This highly visible presence is about boosting safety in Preston’s shopping precincts and public transport network.”