PATTERSON LAKES, VIC. — As part of Operation Trinity, police have arrested a 30-year-old Frankston man after a car crashed into a bollard in Patterson Lakes on Saturday, when officers patrolling along Gladesville Road responded to a car suspiciously loitering at about 12.20am.
Officers approached the vehicle and located a man fast asleep at the wheel of the blue Toyota Prado.
As the officers began to speak to the man, he suddenly drove off before coming to a stop approximately 500m up the road.
Officers approached the Prado a second time and found the man had once again fallen asleep at the wheel.
He woke up for a second time and, when he was directed to exit the vehicle, allegedly attempted to flee.
He was unsuccessful and was arrested at the scene.
The vehicle was searched, with police locating and seizing an amount of drugs and approximately $10,000 from inside.
The man allegedly refused to undergo a preliminary drug test at the scene and was taken to be interviewed.
Allegedly, the Prado was stolen from Highett on July 23 and was bearing false plates at the time of the 30-year-old Frankston man’s arrest.
He was charged with unlicensed driving, careless driving, theft of a motor vehicle, driving a vehicle with false plates, possessing methylamphetamine, trafficking methylamphetamine, possessing 1,4 butanediol (‘bupe’), dealing with proceeds of crime and refusing to undergo a drug impairment assessment.
The Frankston man appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
These offenders are largely opportunistic by nature – seeking easy access points through unlocked doors and windows.
As such, police implore the community to take simple steps such as locking all doors and windows on your home and car.
