Scores of criminals nabbed as police swoop CBD in lockdown
Burglars, thieves and drug traffickers have been nabbed by teams of police on nightly patrols of Melbourne’s CBD and inner-city suburbs after a spike in crimes during the coronavirus lockdown.
Police & Courts
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Criminals are being scooped in huge numbers during after-dark police patrols in inner Melbourne.
Ninety people, including serial burglars, thieves and drug traffickers, have been arrested by police since April 1.
The arrests form part of Operation Nights Watch, where teams of uniform and plain-clothed police patrol Melbourne, Docklands, Richmond, Collingwood, Fitzroy and Carlton each night to prevent crime.
Police have executed 37 warrants, issued 191 traffic infringmenets and intercepted 612 cars as part of the operation. Three cars were impounded and 128 offenders issued more than $211,000 in fines for breaching the state’s lockdown restrictions.
Superintendent Darren Franks said the streets were quieter but criminals were out in force.
“Local police are not standing by and waiting for crime to happen in our city — we have been actively patrolling the CBD and surrounds to prevent and deter crime,” he said.
The operation was formed after a spike in crimes including commercial burglaries at premises unattended due to coronavirus lockdowns.
Among those charged were three men found acting suspiciously outside a City Rd apartment building on April 15.
The men, aged 30 and 33 from Melbourne and a 28-year-old from Queensland, were arrested for trafficking drugs believed to be methylamphetamine, possessing a sawn-off shotgun with ammunition and possessing a stolen car.
Following the arrest, police executed a search warrant and seized three cars bearing cloned number plates and arrested two females from Melbourne.
On April 27, police caught up with a 39-year-old woman wanted for questioning over 10 separate thefts. She was charged and remanded to appear in court at a later date.
Supt Franks said police were using the nightly patrols to catch wanted criminals and make sure they kept up with bail conditions.
“Police normally dedicated to major events and patrolling community hot spots have been utilised throughout this operation, and they will continue to focus on protecting the city and its surrounds,” he said.
“While there are presently less businesses open and people on the streets, we will not be taking our foot off the pedal when it comes to arresting criminals, especially opportunistic thieves targeting businesses that have closed to help stop the spread of coronavirus.”
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