Two men have been arrested in Ballarat following a series of offending across Macedon Ranges and the state’s west.
Gisborne police were conducting patrols in the Macedon area when they disturbed offenders allegedly committing a burglary at a service station on Black Forrest Drive about 5am on Saturday, June 28.
Both men exited the store and left the area in a vehicle as being identified as stolen from the Ballarat area earlier that night, according to police.
Police alleged that same night, a series of vehicles were broken into in the Kyneton area, between 5am and 6.45am.
Two vehicles were allegedly stolen and driven a short distance before being dumped at or near the location where the next vehicle was stolen.
The last vehicle to be stolen from Kyneton was a black Holden Commodore Ute.
Police allege the vehicle was driven out of the Kyneton and the owner’s bank cards were used purchase various items at numerous locations between Kyneton and Ballarat.
On Sunday, June 29, Ballarat police attended a car wash in Lucas to make inquiries about CCTV footage related to the investigation in the Macedon Ranges.
Police observed the stolen Holden parked in a car wash bay, and officers approached on foot and observed a male about to enter the vehicle.
An attempt was made to arrest the occupants of the vehicle before the Holden allegedly drove forward and crashed into a tow truck, police said.
The male driver then allegedly reversed the ute at speed, causing one of the doors to catch the detectives, before dragging them about 10 metres along the ground. Both officers were injured.
The two males were subsequently arrested on June 30 in relation to the series of offending along with various other matters for which they were wanted for.
This includes offending across the western region, including Macedon Ranges, Ballarat, Moorabool and Geelong.
A 30-year-old male, from Ballarat, has been charged with the offences within Macedon Ranges along with other matters outside the area, and was remanded in custody to appear before the Ballarat Magistrates Court at a later date.
A 26-year-old male, also from Ballarat, has been interviewed and released pending further inquiries.
