Ten arrested as police crack down on car thieves in Melbourne’s west
A man who allegedly stashed methamphetamine and a baton in his car was among 10 people arrested as police targeted hotspots in Melbourne’s west where crooks are stealing cars.
Police & Courts
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An erratic driver who allegedly stashed methamphetamine and a baton in his car was among 10 people arrested during a police sting targeting stolen vehicles.
Three stolen vehicles were seized by officers during Operation Ghost over three nights last weekend as they honed in on crooks stealing cars across Brimbank.
Police intelligence revealed thieves are targeting public parking spaces and will try to open multiple cars until they find an unlocked vehicle to steal.
Shopping centres and railway station car parks in Sunshine, St Albans and Taylors Lakes were targeted heavily by officers who located three unoccupied stolen cars.
More than 600 vehicles were checked and two cars were towed away for speeding offences.
A further 15 search warrants were conducted across the west.
Among the 10 people arrested was a 37-year-old Footscray man who police allege was driving erratically on Ballarat Rd in Sunshine about 3.30am last Friday.
Patrolling officers allegedly found methamphetamine, cannabis, prescription medication and an extendable baton in his car.
A Sunshine West man, 66, was arrested after traffickable quantities of ice and heroin were allegedly located during a search warrant in Caroline Springs.
A Tarneit man, who was possessing heroin, was nabbed after he was observed driving with allegedly stolen number plates in St Albans.
Brimbank Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Raj Tillekeratne said those in the west were getting smashed by car thieves but said locking vehicles was the best deterrent.
“Vehicle crime is a huge priority for us in Brimbank,” he said.
“Every week we are arresting offenders and recovering stolen vehicles.
“Vehicle theft is often opportunistic. In fact, we know offenders actively target unlocked vehicles.”
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