Partygoers ‘hiding in closets’ fined

The people were attending an illegal party when police burst in, leading them to try to evade detection by hiding on the premises.

Police speak to two women as they fine them for not wearing face masks in public without a valid reason in Melbourne. Picture: William WEST / AFP

A man who travelled 36 kilometres to get a haircut and another who went from Melbourne to Ballarat twice “to get some fresh air” are among those fined over the last 24 hours by Victoria Police.

There were 168 fines issued to individuals for breaching the chief health officer’s directions, 18 of which were handed out at vehicle checkpoints.

Ten people found celebrating at an Airbnb short term rental in West Melbourne yesterday were fined.

“Police received noise complaints and subsequently located 10 people in a Dudley St apartment, two of which were hiding in a bedroom, about 11pm,” police said in a statement on Saturday.

“All were escorted out of the premises and issued fines for breaching chief health officer directions.”

Five people caught partying at a similar rental in Melbourne’s CBD yesterday were also fined.

“Officers located five people inside a Franklin St apartment about 2am with some attempting to avoid police detection by hiding in a closet,” police said.

Other breaches included a man who travelled from Bentleigh East to Sunbury “for his favourite takeaway food” and a man who travelled from Thornbury to Werribee “to get a haircut from his favourite barber”.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville earlier spoke about someone who drove more than 300 kilometres from Melbourne to Wodonga to buy a Big Mac from McDonald’s.