Two St Albans men and a man from Melbourne have been arrested in an operation targeting vehicle crime at train station carparks in Melbourne’s north-west.
More than 30 police and protective services officers (PSOs) flooded carparks along the Sunbury and Craigieburn lines on August 21.
Railway stations at Sunbury, Watergardens, Keilor Plains, St Albans, Ginifer, Essendon, Coolaroo, Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn were a focus.
A 30-year-old St Albans man was arrested after being found in an allegedly stolen vehicle at the St Albans railway station carpark about 2.20pm.
It’s alleged the stolen car, which didn’t have any numberplates, rammed a police vehicle in an attempt to flee.
The man was charged with multiple offences including theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, recklessly exposing a police officer to risk by driving, damaging an emergency service vehicle by driving and failing to answer bail.
He was remanded in custody and will face court at a later date.
The two further arrests comprised a 22-year-old St Albans man, arrested for motor vehicle theft, and a 19-year-old Melbourne man wanted for criminal damage.
As part of the operation, a 53-year-old Craigieburn woman was found in possession of a prohibited weapon — a knuckle duster with taser — and was released pending summons.
A 24-year-old Dallas man was also found driving while disqualified and had his vehicle impounded at a cost of $966.
There were 12 penalty notices issued for traffic-related offences, with officers also speaking to three people allegedly caught driving when unlicensed, suspended or disqualified.
Local police worked with officers from Victoria Police’s Transit Safety Division and Public Order Response Team as part of the effort.
Police spoke with more than 80 people and conducted more than 1400 vehicle registration checks.
Police said the highly visible operation builds on the ongoing, dedicated work of Victoria Police in boosting safety at railway station precincts.
Victoria Police Inspector Fiona Curnow said such operations send a strong signal that would-be car thieves should think again.
“Police and PSOs will continue doing all they can to deter offenders and detect those who choose to break the law,” Inspector Curnow said.
