Detective Senior Constable Richard Hughes, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said raids on three homes in Warrnambool last Friday had resulted in seven arrests.

A further Point Cook residence was raided on the weekend, resulting in another arrest.

Three males were remanded in custody and will face court today.

The other five accused were released on bail.

Senior Constable Hughes said police believed the group was planning to target more homes in Warrnambool and Hamilton last Friday night.

“We’ve been able to quell that behaviour,” he said.

Senior Constable Hughes said the searches of the properties proved fruitful.

“Stolen goods from all the aggravated burglaries were found at each residence,” he said.

The eight people have been charged in relation to three aggravated burglaries overnight on May 16 in Warrnambool, as well as a burglary in Sharpe Avenue on April 25 and a similar incident in Eddington Street on April 19.

Goods stolen from properties included cars, electronic tablets, laptops, wallets and handbags. The victims targeted included a family of four, whose property was broken into while they slept. The family’s two vehicles were stolen and one was recovered later that morning.