An overnight operation in the Wyndham area has led to the arrest of five people allegedly involved in evading police and dangerous driving, while a further 14 were issued with infringement notices.
Operation Shows is regularly run in the western suburbs, seeing local police working alongside specialist units including Air Wing, Dog Squad and Highway Patrol to target high risk driving.
Air Wing scour the area from above while units on the ground patrol the streets, with the aim to detect risky or dangerous drivers. The Dog Squad assist in searching for any offenders who attempt to flee.
On Thursday night, police attempted to intercept three cars and one motorbike for allegedly displaying stolen registration plates, not displaying any registration plates, being unregistered, or appearing suspicious.
Five people were quickly tracked down and arrested as a result of the coordinated approach from Air Wing, Dog Squad and local police.
Those who allegedly evaded police include:
• At about 8.10pm, it is alleged police were patrolling Watton Street in Werribee where a black motorbike was observed not displaying registration plates. Air Wing was quick to locate the motorbike, and while units attempted to intercept the rider it is alleged that he evaded police at high speeds. Air Wing tracked the motorbike driving at high speeds before it came to a stop at a residential premise in Point Cook. Police arrested a 20-year-old man and impounded the motorbike. It is expected he will be charged on summons with conduct endangering persons, drive in a dangerous manner, evade police, unlicensed driving, drive an unregistered vehicle, disobey red traffic light and exceed speed limit.
• Just before 9pm, police attempted to intercept a Hi-Lux Ute in a car park of a shopping centre on Derrimut Road, when it is alleged that it evaded police at high speeds. Air Wing monitored the driver to O'Keefe Court, where officers on the ground moved in and made an arrest. A 34-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was interviewed and is expected to be charged on summons with evade police, drive while disqualified, exceed speed limit and drive in a dangerous manner. The vehicle was impounded.
• At about 9.55pm units on the ground allegedly observed a silver Ford Territory on Derrimut Road displaying stolen registration plates. Police attempted to intercept when it is alleged the driver evaded police. Air Wing tracked the car to Yenda Court, where two alleged offenders fled on foot. Police on the ground were quick to respond, arresting two people nearby. A 41-year-old Werribee man - the alleged driver - was charged with theft, unlicenced driving, unregistered vehicle and commit an indictable offence while on bail. A 31-year-old Werribee woman - the alleged passenger - was charged with handle stolen goods and commit an indictable offence while on bail. They were both bailed to appear at court at a later date. The Ford Territory was impounded.
• At about 1am on Friday morning, Dog Squad units who were patrolling the streets allegedly observed an unregistered Ford Falcon ute on the Princes Highway in Werribee. It's alleged the vehicle evaded police when an intercept was attempted. Air Wing located the vehicle and tracked it to Forsyth Road where units on the ground responded and arrested the driver. It's alleged the driver was an unaccompanied learner, and the 20-year-old Werribee South man is expected to be charged on summons with evade police, unregistered vehicle and learner driver unaccompanied. The ute was impounded.
Police also caught up with a further 14 people, issuing them with infringement notices for driving offences including drug driving, using a mobile phone while driving, speeding, driving on the wrong side of the road and fail to display P plates.
During the operation, over 130 vehicles were checked and 39 were intercepted.
Operation Shows will continue to operate in the Wyndham area.
Anyone with information about dangerous drivers is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Wyndham Local Area Commander, Inspector Rachel Van Someron:
"This operation shows that you can never really hide from police - if you evade us, there is a reason why, we have a range of methods to be able to track you down.
"Not only are we regularly apprehending and charging those who drive dangerously in Wyndham to account, we are also impounding their cars and motorbikes to remove them from our roads.
"We want the community to know that we take public safety seriously. Whether it's on our roads, or any other form of serious, violent or high harm offending, we will continue to do everything we can to track down offenders and hold them to account."
"Operation Shows will continue to operate in the west, targeting motorbike riders and drivers driving at dangerously high speeds and attempting to evade police and put the community at risk."
