The arrest of a wanted 29-year-old Warrnambool man on Saturday night capped off a productive night shift operation for police targeting recidivist offenders.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Detective Sergeant Andrew Raven, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said the man was arrested about 11pm Saturday night at a Raingill Avenue address.
He was interviewed, charged and remanded in custody.
He appeared briefly in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday, did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until August 13.
Detective Sergeant Raven said police were targeting known offender who were driving around at night involved in committing crimes.
"We have been using unmarked police vehicles at night to identify and intercept those engaged in criminal behaviour," he said.
"Because the past week has been so successful we will continue to use flexibility in rostering as a tool to target recidivist offenders.
"Our activities have led to a significant reduction in crime.
"We would warn all drivers out and about at night that you can expect to be intercepted and asked to take an alcohol and/or drug test.
"Drivers are fair game after midnight. We're not interested in anyone engaged in work, but we have been very productive in identifying those engaging in criminal activities.
"We've arrested and charged them. It's been a stunning success and we'll be doing it again," he said.
Police allege the man arrested late Saturday was involved in the theft of a winch and a large tandem trailer on June 10 from Warrnambool Motorcycles & Gardening Products on Raglan Parade.
The next day it's alleged he stole a car and was driving while disqualified on Warrnambool's Banyan Street.
On Tuesday last week a red BMW driven by the same offender failed to stop when directed by a Warrnambool highway patrol officer at 11.15pm in Laverock Road.
The driver sped away from police at high speed.
The next night he was seen about 2.40am in Wanstead Street driving the same BMW.
Police activated their emergency lights and the driver again fled at high speed, driving onto the wrong side of the road.
About 10 minutes later a patrolling police vehicle spotted the red BMW parked near a service road in east Warrnambool with it's lights off.
It's alleged the man deliberately drove at the police vehicle before turning and evading officers.
"He came straight at us before fleeing," Detective Sergeant Raven said.
"The red BMW was found dumped in Lachlan Street with a flat tyre and the offender fled on foot.
"That all happened before we arrested him on Saturday night at 10.55pm."
The man has been charged with 13 offences, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, failing to stop when directed by police and driving in a dangerous manner.
Detective Sergeant Raven said flexibility in rostering was allowing police to target recidivist offenders.
"It's proactive policing in unmarked cars in the middle of the night," he said.
"During last week highway patrol officers impounded three cars and six people were charged with providing a positive oral fluid test or refusing to take that test," he said.
"There was one woman caught on two separate occasions drug driving."
On Monday last week a man was arrested in relation to a burglary at the east Warrnambool Subway restaurant and a co-accused was arrested on Tuesday.
A man and woman were also arrested and charged with serious driving offences the same night.
On Wednesday a 73-year-old man was arrested after forensics linked him to the attempted theft of a number plate.
A driver who evaded police was arrested on Thursday along with a man wanted on warrants of apprehension and a regular offender was caught in possession of cannabis.
On Friday a routine intercept by members of the Warrnambool Highway Patrol Unit at Mahoneys Road led to a raid at nearby Greenvale Court home.
Police recovered $25,000 in cash and two men were charged with trafficking ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis.
Read more:
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.