MILDURA, VIC. — Police arrested almost 30 people and recovered six stolen cars during a highly visible operation targeting car thieves and dangerous drivers in the state’s far northwest.
Operation Dureta saw local units team up with specialist police, including the Victoria Police Air Wing, to saturate key locations in Mildura and target high-harm crime.
Detectives, Highway Patrol and general duties police from both Mildura and Dareton, New South Wales joined forces for the cross-border blitz, which saw 28 people arrested for a range of offences including car theft, aggravated burglary, dangerous driving and drug driving.
Among those arrested were:
- Two Mildura men, aged 25 and 41, were arrested after fleeing from a vehicle last Friday, September 11. Police first observed a Holden Commodore, with no headlights on, allegedly speeding on Ontario Avenue just after 2am. The Air Wing then tracked the vehicle and observed it allegedly reach 160km/h with no headlights on. Police on the ground attempted to intercept the vehicle near the New South Wales border; however, the driver failed to stop and continued. Police then deployed stop sticks, which successfully halted the vehicle. The two occupants fled on foot, jumping over multiple fences in an attempt to get away, but were arrested shortly after without incident.
- A 25-year-old man and two women, aged 30 and 32, were arrested in an allegedly stolen Toyota Land Cruiser on Thursday, September 10. Officers on the ground first observed the stolen vehicle travelling on Fourteenth Street, Mildura, just after 10pm. The Air Wing tracked the vehicle from the sky and observed the driver allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road and over median strips through several residential and rural streets. The car pulled over in Buxton-Sobee Park, and three occupants fled into a nearby property. Police established a cordon and arrested the trio, all from Mildura, without incident. The alleged male driver was remanded to appear before Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, September 29. The two women were charged and bailed to appear before court at a later date.
- A 41-year-old Mildura woman allegedly stole a Volkswagen Tiguan from a home in Mildura about 5.50pm on Saturday, September 12. As police were responding to the incident, they observed the stolen car allegedly travelling on Tenth Street. Police attempted to intercept the car, but the driver failed to stop and continued at speed. The Air Wing tracked the vehicle to an address in Mildura and guided officers on the ground to the location of two occupants. The woman and a male passenger were arrested, and she was later charged with a range of offences including aggravated burglary and car theft.
During the operation, police also issued 15 infringement notices for traffic offences, including unlicensed driving and drink driving and a further two vehicles were impounded.
Operation Dureta ran overnight between September 9 and 12 and will run again in the near future.
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
