Taskforce Regarder crush cars as police crack down on hoons
FOUR people have been arrested over hoon meets after police raided homes across four Melbourne suburbs this morning, as cops continue a crack down on illegal car meets and menace drivers.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TWO women have been charged following an anti-hoon operation this morning.
Early morning warrants were executed in Moorabbin, Bentleigh East, Endeavour Hills and Ferntree Gully as part of an operation led by Taskforce Regarder.
Two men were arrested in relation to planning and organising intentional high-risk driving between June and September 2017.
A 22-year-old Bentleigh East woman and a 22-year-old Endeavour Hills woman have been charged with conduct endangering serious injury, incitement, hinder police and a number of high risk driving offences.
Both women have been bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on March 29.
A third person was arrested on October 17 2017.
A 21-year-old Endeavour Hills man was charged with multiple counts of reckless conduct endangering persons. He was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on February 13.
It comes as police are on track to crush a record number of hoons’ cars in a crack down on illegal car-meets and menace drivers.
The Herald Sun can reveal seven cars were crushed at a Dandenong South car yard last Friday as part of Taskforce Regarder and another is set to be destroyed this week.
SKID MEETS: HOON FANS TO COP $800 FINES IN COUNCIL CRACKDOWN
ANTI-HOON POLICE CHARGE PAIR OVER UNDERGROUND CAR MEETS
TEENAGE GIRL ATTACKED IN FRANKSTON CARJACKING
DRUG DRIVING: POLICE SAY TIME TO END THE COCAINE SNORT RORT
Police arrested more than 55 offenders and seized 24 cars since the taskforce was set up to investigate illegal hoon meets across Melbourne in November 2015.
The taskforce, made up of a team of detectives, highway patrol members and intelligence officers, works to disrupt hoon gatherings and gather evidence against highly organised offending groups.
The crushing of impounded vehicles was introduced in July 2010 and police figures reveal that 2204 cars were destroyed between June 2015 and December 31, 2016.
Detective Inspector Mick Daly said of the seven crushed cars: “These cars were forfeited for destruction after being seized by police following hoon-meets that occurred between November 2015 and January 2016 in Lynbrook, Mulgrave and Dandenong South,” he said.
“The destruction of these cars sends a very firm message to everyone out there who thinks it’s OK to participate in hoon activity.”
Det Insp Daly said hoon activity was dangerous and “not simply a bit of harmless fun”.
“We’ve seen these kinds of behaviours result in both death and serious injury,” he said.
“Police take these illegal actions very seriously.”
He said Victorians will face the full force of the law if drivers continue to take part in illegal hoon activity.
“I want everyone to take notice of the seven cars we crushed last week because this is what will happen to your car if you choose to engage in illegal hoon activity,” he said.
“Taskforce Regarder continues to actively investigate illegal hoon activity in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs and we remain focused on stamping out this dangerous behaviour.
“Our message to anyone out there engaging in this kind of behaviour is we see you, we’ll find you, we’ll charge you and we’ll seize your car.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville said hoon activity puts lives at risk.
“If you’re a hoon — you’ll be caught and your car will be crushed,” she said.
“We’re determined to do all we can to stamp it out.”
The vehicles were destroyed at Norstar recyclers in Dandenong South. Once the cars have been crushed they are shredded and separated from steel and rubbish.
The steel is then sent to South-East Asia to be recycled.
Minister for Police Lisa Neville said hoon activity puts lives at risk.
“If you’re a hoon — you’ll be caught and your car will be crushed,” she said.
“We’re determined to do all we can to stamp it out.”
The vehicles were destroyed at Norstar recyclers in Dandenong South. Once the cars have been crushed they are shredded and separated from steel and rubbish.
The steel is then sent to South-East Asia to be recycled.
Cars crushed last week included:
— A BLACK Nissan coupe after a 25-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A WHITE Holden sedan after a 24-year-old man was charged with three counts of reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A RED Nissan sedan after a 23-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A GREY Holden sedan after a 23-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A MAROON Ford sedan after a 25-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A BLACK Holden utility after a 30-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A WHITE Holden sedan after a 27-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
— A BLUE Ford sedan will also be destroyed later this week after an LPG tank is removed.
The car was seized in relation to an incident where a 20-year-old man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury. The Cranbourne East man was convicted on June 8, 2016 where he received a 12-month Community Corrections Order and had his licence cancelled and disqualified for 18 months.