BALLARAT, VIC. — An alleged car thief who fled from police was one of 10 people arrested during a major overnight operation in Ballarat.
Operation Talon saw local police team up with specialist units including the Air Wing and Dog Squad to target car thefts and high-risk driving while the community sleeps.
They first spotted the alleged car thief driving erratically in the Sebastopol area about 11.20pm on July 18.
Officers attempted to intercept the car, a white Subaru; however, the driver allegedly failed to stop and took off at speed.
The Air Wing tracked the vehicle from above before officers on the ground deployed stop sticks in Wendouree.
The car came to a stop on Park Street before two occupants allegedly took off on foot.
One jumped over several property fences but was swiftly arrested by police.
The pair, aged 22 from Sebastopol and 18 from Ballarat North, were later charged with a string of car theft and traffic offences.
Shortly before, officers were patrolling along Learmonth Street in Alfredton when they observed a black Ford Falcon with no registration plates allegedly perform a burnout at the intersection of Latrobe Street about 10.25pm.
Police attempted to intercept the driver; however, they allegedly failed to stop and took off, reaching speeds of 120km/h.
The Air Wing followed the car from above and guided officers on the ground to Winter Valley, where two occupants allegedly got out of the vehicle and hid outside a nearby house.
The alleged driver, a 20-year-old Mt Wallace man, was arrested and later charged with dangerous driving while being pursued by police, driving a vehicle in a manner dangerous, careless driving, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and failing to stop on police direction.
His passenger, aged 21 from Mt Egerton, was arrested and charged with possessing cocaine and resisting arrest.
The four men were among 10 people arrested during the four-night operation.
In total, police recovered 11 stolen cars, impounded two vehicles for traffic offences and conducted eight bail compliance checks.
Operation Talon ran overnight between July 15 to 18.
