Hoons put on notice after footage emerges from wild meets

Victoria Police have impounded hundreds of cars in the past week, many of which were involved in wild hoon meets.

A top cop has furiously put Victorian hoons on notice, saying the force has “no tolerance” for the deadly behaviour after a spate of organised meets across Melbourne.

It can be revealed Victoria Police impounded more than 190 vehicles in the last week for driving offences, many who were involved in illegal hoon gatherings in St Kilda, Dandenong South and Hoppers Crossing.

And since July 1, more than 6200 vehicles have been seized statewide for offences including excessive speeding, street racing and unnecessary noise or smoke.

Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said police would continue to crackdown on dangerous drivers and that last week the force had crushed 29 vehicles — up on the 2020 average of 20 per week.

“I show no tolerance to anyone, particularly for those groups who do hoon drag racing, burn outs and the like,” Mr Barrett told the Herald Sun.

“It is outrageous behaviour, a vehicle is a weapon if used inappropriately. I am really concerned about some of the behaviours we are seeing, it has just got to stop.

“The community is outraged, these young people do not know the dangers they place themselves in. It is not harmless fun, it is really dangerous. We see this behaviour result in death far too often.”

Police were called to a large gathering on Commercial Rd in Dandenong South on Wednesday at 10pm, where people stood dangerously close to cars as they performed burnouts in the street.

Illegal flares were set off and motorists taunted with a blow up doll.

On January 21 thousands gathered in St Kilda, where witnesses said they “thought someone was going to die” as people blocked road traffic, jumped on moving cars and threw rocks at police cars.

It is understood luxury vehicles worth in excess of $100,000 have been seized following that event.

On January 23 police were called to another meet in Hoppers Crossing involving 40 vehicles which also turned violent when a male kicked and damaged a police car.

Mr Barrett said police would use a “range of methodologies” to investigate anyone who has broken the law at recent hoon meet-ups.

“If the courts convict them, we will ask for their cars to be forfeited and we will destroy them,” he said.

“Whether you are involved or if you are there encouraging (the hoons), we will investigate all of them.”

Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving is encouraged to contact log a police report, or call triple-0 if the matter is urgent.

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS, BURNOUT CHAOS AT WILD HOON MEET

Shocking footage shows cars performing burnouts and other illegal activity in Melbourne’s southeast on Wednesday night.

A car enthusiast, who was aware of the hoon meet, slammed the dangerous behaviour as “irresponsible” after chaos erupted on Fairchild St, Heatherton.

“This stupid and irresponsible behaviour needs to stop. There’s a whole group of us that just want to meet up responsibly and talk about cars,” he said.

“Someone is going to get seriously hurt. The meet in St Kilda was wrong and what continues to happen near DFO is not on.”

The footage showed a large group of people standing dangerously close to cars as they performed burnouts in the street.

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A number of hoons caused chaos in the southeastern suburbs. Picture: Instagram

Multiple cars were doing burnouts at the same time. Picture: Instagram

A large crowd of onlookers was dangerously close to the cars. Picture: Instagram

Illegal fireworks were set off and motorists taunted by a blow up doll.

It comes as a teenage hoon was involved in a dramatic high-speed chase across Melbourne.

Police were initially called to Commercial Rd in Dandenong South to reports of a large crowd gathered at a hoon event about 10pm on Wednesday.

The rider of a black and green Kawasaki motorbike with no plates approached a responding police vehicle in the Rowville area and allegedly kicked it several times before performing a “mono” and taking off.

The police air wing was activated and tracked the motorcyclist back to the hoon event.

Police on the ground tried to intercept the motorcyclist on two occasions but it kept speeding off.

Footage of hoons doing burnouts in Heatherton. Picture: Instagram

Hoons and their cars swarmed to the street. Picture: Instagram

Illegal fireworks were set off in Heatherton. Picture: Instagram

The air wing followed the motorcyclist as he entered the Monash Freeway and reached alleged speeds of 180kmh while travelling through roadwork areas.

The motorcyclist exited the Western Freeway and got off his bike on Smith St in Melton where he was taken down by the dog squad and Critical Incident Response Team.

The 18-year-old Melton man has been charged with 26 offences including conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, dangerous driving while being pursued by police, committing indictable offence while on bail, criminal damage to a police vehicle, dangerous speed/manner and other traffic offences.

He will face Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au