Airport West shopping centre blitz

Police made dozens of arrests in recent weeks, seizing several weapons, including a machete, as well as drugs and cash, as part of an ongoing safety blitz at Westfield Shopping Centre in Airport West.

Moonee Valley police have been running targeted operations in the shopping centre in recent weeks, with a two-day operation in June, and another two-day weapons operation last week.

This is in addition to Operation Valleysafe, an ongoing proactive operation which sees police patrolling key popular locations in the area, such as shopping centres and strips.

Busy community locations such as shopping centres and transport hubs remain key priorities for police to ensure safety and public order.

Uniform police, the Public Order Response Team, Mounted Branch and the Dog Squad deployed to the area last week as part of a two-day weapons operation, which led to:

• • 19 arrests for outstanding warrants, weapons, drug trafficking and possession
• • Seized seven controlled weapons including pocket knives, box cutters and multitools
• • Nearly 70 searches of people in the area
• • Over 250 vehicles scanned through ANPR, with 31 searched
• • Cleared eight outstanding arrest warrants

Among those arrested were:

• • Police located quantities of 1,4 Butanediol on two men over two days last week. One of the men had his vehicle searched on Friday after allegedly driving disqualified, which uncovered the drugs, and a further search of the driver uncovered $8,000 in cash. One of the men was charged with drug trafficking, and the other was charged with driving disqualified, drug possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
• • Another man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer inside the shopping centre. Police observed the man allegedly smoking inside the shopping centre, and when officers approached him, he allegedly pushed the police officer and resisted arrest. The 20-year-old man from Ardeer was charged with assaulting police, resisting police and smoking in an enclosed workplace.

Under the Control of Weapons Act, the area was declared a designated area for weapon searches from July 10-11.

It follows a recent operation where police worked closely with Loss Prevention Officers to identify shop thieves, resulting in the arrest of 12 people.

• • Two 14-year-old males were also arrested outside of the shopping centre on Sunday, June 22, after bystanders stepped in during an alleged attempted armed robbery. It’s alleged that about 11.40am two males entered a tobacco store located at the shopping centre.
    
    The males allegedly grabbed several items from the store, with one of the males approaching a staff member and brandishing a large machete. Bystanders nearby intervened, and both males allegedly returned the items before they ran off. Police were nearby on a foot patrol and responded immediately, arresting the two males near a bus stop on Louis Street.
    
    A search of the two males uncovered a large machete and knuckle dusters. One of the 14-year-olds was charged with armed robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon and going equipped to steal. He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date. The other male was released and is expected to be charged on summons.

Police will continue to run operations in the area.