Almost two dozen accused burglars, car thieves, drug traffickers nabbed during Hume police sting

A pair accused of taking a stolen Toyota for a spin at speeds of up to 170km/h were among the 21 offenders nabbed during a four-day police sting in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Twenty-one accused burglars, car thieves, drug traffickers and hoon drivers were picked up during a four-day blitz targeting stolen cars in the northwestern suburbs.

Four stolen cars and a motorbike were recovered while almost two dozen offenders were detected following a spate of vehicle thefts in the Hume region in recent months.

Operation Sneak saw officers from Sunbury and detectives from the Hume CIU flood local roads and highways over four nights earlier this month.

Police pounce on accused burglars following an alleged high-speed vehicle chase. Picture: Supplied

Among those arrested were a man and a woman who allegedly took a stolen Toyota for a spin as they reached speeds of up to 170km/h before they were arrested at Melbourne Airport.

The police Air Wing tracked the pair for two hours after they allegedly nicked the sedan from Richmond before stop sticks were deployed along Bulla Rd near the airport.

They attempted to continue driving the vehicle but were forced to dump their new wheels after the tires were fully blown out.

Dramatic footage showed sparks flying from the sedan as it drove on its rims before several officers pounced at the airport where the duo were taken into custody.

Accused burglars had to dump the car when the tires blew out. Picture: Supplied

Dramatic footage shows sparks flying from the allegedly stolen sedan. Picture: Supplied

A car is towed after accused criminals took it for an alleged high-speed spin and blew out its tires. Picture: Supplied

The 29-year-old male, of no fixed address, was charged with drug driving, theft of motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving, unlicensed driving, fail to stop and fail to answer bail.

He was remanded in custody to appear at court at a later date.

His alleged accomplice, a Broadmeadows woman, 24, was charged with theft of motor vehicle and was bailed to appear at court at a later date.

Police arrest a man as part of a four-day crackdown on alleged criminals. Picture: Supplied

The four-night sting saw four others arrested for home burglaries, two arrested for evading police in a stolen car and seven others quizzed for illegal drug possession.

Five disqualified or suspended drivers were also nabbed while six fines were dished our for various driving offences.

Sunbury Police Acting Sergeant Shae Morrison said internal intelligence revealed nearly half of recent car thefts across Hume were the result of residents leaving their doors unlocked.

“Vehicle theft continues to be a priority for police in the Hume area, with offenders arrested every week for this crime,” she said.

“Unfortunately, some people fall victim to these opportunistic crimes because their cars are left unlocked, so we’d like to remind the community to always ensure your vehicle is locked, even if it is parked in a secure driveway.

“The message is clear — if you’re travelling around in a stolen vehicle in Hume you can expect to be caught.”

Originally published as Almost two dozen accused burglars, car thieves, drug traffickers nabbed during Hume police sting