Fountain Gate: 26 arrested in police weapons blitz at southeast shopping centres
The locals are calling them alleged “baby gangsters”. And the police are ramping up the arrests during a safety blitz in Melbourne’s southeast.
South East
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A community safety blitz has allegedly uncovered illegal weapons in shopping and transport hubs in Melbourne’s southeast.
Casey police conducted Operation OMNI in the Greater Dandenong, Pakenham, Cranbourne and Fountain Gate areas over three days, targeting people carrying dangerous weapons in and around major shopping precincts.
According to the police 26 people were arrested and 11 weapons seized from March 29-31.
More than 500 people were searched and 672 cars checked across the three days.
On the final day of the operation, officers targeted “high risk” locations including the Lyall Street bus terminal, Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre and the Fountain Gate shopping precinct.
They searched 231 people, made one arrest, seized seven weapons, issued five penalty notices and directed 11 people to move on.
Locals took to social media to urge police to keep the pressure on trouble spots following the operation.
Michelle Farrow wrote: “The Lyall St bus terminal should be patrolled everyday because there’s always robberies there.”
Jase Robinson also described the bus terminal as “dangerous”, and listed another one outside Dandenong Plaza as one he avoids.
“That is one scary area at any given time and too much anxiety to go to Dandy Plaza or walk around the area,” he wrote.
Others suspected those reprimanded could have been youths, with Darren Mills commending police for catching out “these baby gangsters”.
Mr Mills said he hoped those caught learnt from their behaviour and would “be mature about their actions in future”.
Neil Wheatley wrote: “These teenagers who think it’s bad... to carry a knife or any other weapon need to be reminded they don’t live in some violent video game or in the Bronx.”
Officers responded to the comments: “Although Operation OMNI has come to an end, these arrests will continue thanks to the hard work of our police and PSOs.”
The latest operation comes after officers conducted a similar blitz in Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong in January, targeting transport hubs.
Over three days, officers arrested and charged 37 people for alleged possession of drugs or weapons, including 11 people who were on outstanding warrants.
Narre Warren and Cranbourne police were contacted for comment.
