PRAHRAN, VIC. — Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating two incidents in Prahran this morning that are not believed to be directly linked to one another.
In the first incident, five people were arrested after officers located a stolen vehicle in Prahran at about 4.40am.
Public Order Response Team members, who were on patrol in relation to the recent series of hospitality arsons, spotted two people on Greville Street wearing hoodies and balaclavas.
The pair were followed to St Edmonds Road, where they approached a Mazda CX-9 carrying a further three people.
Police moved in and arrested the five people after the Mazda, bearing false plates, was confirmed stolen, and two jerry cans of fuel were found in the car.
The four males, three aged 16 and one aged 19 and a woman aged 20 will now be interviewed in relation to the incident.
In a second incident about an hour later, police were called to a bar on Chapel Street after it was rammed by a white Mercedes about 5.40am.
It appears the offenders may have been disturbed as they quickly fled the scene.
“The area was left smelling strongly of petrol,” a police spokesperson said.
Detectives from Operation Eclipse will review the incidents to determine if they are linked to the current series of incidents targeting licensed premises across inner metropolitan Melbourne.
The operation was established last month to target a range of serious and organised crime syndicates believed to be involved in the offending, as well as determining the motive for these attacks.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
