Police crack down on youth crime in four-day Operation Alliance blitz

More than 60 young gang members have been arrested in a major blitz as police vow to clean up the streets and remove the worst youth offenders.

More than 60 high-level youth offenders have been arrested in a major police youth gangs crackdown.

The Saturday Herald Sun can reveal Victoria Police launched an offensive this week to target young gang members wreaking havoc across Melbourne.

Officers attached to Operation Alliance ran a four-day blitz across the city aimed at offenders with known youth gang affiliations.

A total of 66 people were arrested in the western and northwestern suburbs alone as police saturated high-volume crime areas and zeroed in on bail compliance.

The four-day blitz was aimed at offenders with known youth gang affiliations. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Seventeen of those detained were remanded in custody over serious crimes, including armed robbery, aggravated burglary and weapons offences.

Fifty-five bail breaches were uncovered.

Police said there were 45 people with known youth gang affiliations among the 287 checked by members from the gang crime squad, Brimbank divisional offender management team, Wyndham CIU and the transit police.

Six gang-affiliated teens in two cars were arrested after police were forced to intercept them at Point Cook on Tuesday.

A white Infinity and a silver Kia were travelling in convoy on Boardwalk Boulevard where officers used tyre puncture strips laid over the road to slow them down.

They were followed at low speed to Palladino Way in Tarneit where five, aged 13 to 17, were arrested.

The Kia was followed to Greg Norman Drive where one teen was arrested and four fled.

Seven males aged 14 to 38 and connected to gangs were arrested at Errington Reserve in St Albans as part of the same operation.

Police are targeting young gang members wreaking havoc across Melbourne suburbs.

Five boys aged 15 to 17 were arrested in the southeastern suburbs over 15 separate incidents, including aggravated carjacking, aggravated burglary and vehicle offences after crimes in Carrum Downs, Bentleigh East, Bonbeach, Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Cheltenham, Beaumaris, Ashburton, Ashwood, Carrum, Malvern East and Clayton South.

They were detained after allegedly ramming a police vehicle in a McDonald’s carpark in Frankston.

Superintendent David Jones of northwest metro division three said police were committed to taking the worst youth offenders off the street.

“Police have a greater line of sight on people associated with youth gangs than ever before,” Supt Jones said.

“We know who they are and we know their offending habits. We’ll keep knocking on their doors to ensure they are adhering to bail conditions and we’ll be waiting for them at the locations where we know they seek to commit crimes.”

Supt Jones said arrests were not the only solution to youth crime and prevention and early intervention were also crucial.

“We’ve strengthened our intelligence holdings this week, giving us opportunities to further engage with young people, their families and networks to break the cycle of reoffending,” he said.