UPDATE: noon: THREE people are in custody and assisting police with their inquiries after a series of crimes were committed in Warrnambool on Wednesday.
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Warrnambool Detective Senior Constable Elissa Smith said the trio – a Warrnambool man and woman and a man from Geelong – were arrested on Thursday morning.
It’s expected they will be interviewed, charged with offences and could appear in Warrnambool Magistrates Court later on Thursday.
Earlier, 8am: CRIME scene police investigators will on Thursday examine a stolen car involved in a series of crimes around Warrnambool.
Detective Senior Constable Elissa Smith, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said investigations were progressing fruitfully.
The drama started about 4am on Wednesday when police attempted to intercept a stolen white Nissan Navara at the Warrnambool Gem Club carpark.
The Navara, which was stolen from Koroit on Tuesday, accelerated away, with the three occupants of the car hurling tools at police before driving erratically into a dead-end street.
Once cornered, the driver did a u-turn and drove at the police car.
The divisional van driver took evasive action but the van was rammed.
The Navara was found dumped in Maxwell Grove about 5am.
Then just after 2pm, police attempted to intercept a back Holden Calais, bearing Queensland plates, and believed the occupants were the same offenders, but they managed to evade officers.
Detective Senior Constable Smith said that at 3.25pm there was another incident at the BP service station in Warrnambool’s Mortlake Road.
That involved a known stolen vehicle – a black Holden Calais – which had been seen around Warrnambool during the past couple of weeks,
"It was not an attempted armed robbery although that was the way it was initially reported," Detective Senior Constable Smith said.
"The occupants of the black Holden Calais attempted to put fuel in the vehicle, but the service station attendant was aware that vehicle had been involved in previous petrol drive-offs.
"He switched off the pump and then confronted a male before the Holden Calais was driven off."
Detective Senior Constable Smith said security camera footage from the service station confirmed the identity of the offenders.
"We were pretty confident before then but that firmed it all up," she said.
"Investigations are ongoing and we expect significant progress to be made today," she said.
The black Calais was located at Framlingham about 5pm Wednesday.
It has been towed to Warrnambool where it will be forensically examined on Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Warrnambool police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
