Police in Melbourne’s west arrested 50 people as part of a concerted approach to target youth gang members and other repeat young offenders ahead of the school holidays.
Police conducted arrest warrants, firearm prohibition order checks and bail compliance checks to put known offenders in the area on notice as part of Operation Alliance.
The four-day blitz in Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham and Brimbank resulted in 50 arrests, four offenders being remanded, 15 were released with intent to summons, four were released pending enquiries, and 27 were bailed.
Four vehicles were impounded and 38 penalty notices issued.
Among the incidents, four male offenders allegedly entered a Braybrook home armed with knives and machetes in March 28.
It Is alleged their faces were covered and they smashed a window before forcing entry through the front door before pushing four victims into the one room, before threatening them with the weapons and demanding car keys and mobile phones.
The offenders, with one who were heard saying they had the wrong address, stole several mobile phones, before leaving and forcing entry to an adjacent premises where another mobile phone was stolen. Police intercepted a vehicle as they arrived, with two males on board. A 20-year-old Sunshine West man was arrested, while the other remains outstanding.
A search of the vehicle located two machetes, drugs, and identification from one of the victims of the earlier home invasion. The 20-year-old Sunshine West man was charged with two counts of home invasion and trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
On March 30, a woman was walking home near Heaths Road and Rosella Avenue, Werribee when she was allegedly approached by an unknown male brandishing a hammer.
The male allegedly stole her handbag before fleeing in a grey Mitsubishi Lancer.
The victim was not injured and phoned triple-0.
About 15 minutes later, the vehicle was observed by police on Poplar Boulevard in Truganina.
Police tried to intercept the vehicle unsuccessfully before the vehicle was tracked by the Air Wing with stop sticks deployed, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old Rockbank man.
A hammer was allegedly found in the vehicle, as well as other stolen property. He was charged with armed robbery and will appear in court on May 21.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Balzer said they know the school holiday period generally creates greater opportunities for youth gangs to offend.
“We are determined to disrupt anyone attempting to commit serious and violent crime, which is exactly what occurred in the western suburbs last week.”
