Four people who thought they outsmarted the Police Air Wing were arrested in Hallam yesterday.
The incident began when Public Order Response Team officers sighted a stolen grey Holden utility travelling through a Narre Warren shopping centre car park about 11.25am.
Officers attempted to intercept the vehicle as it was exiting the centre, but the driver allegedly performed a burn out and drove up a grass embankment at high speed.
The driver continued to speed down Overland Drive and allegedly went through a red light when turning onto the Princes Highway.
Officers on ground stopped following the car due to safety concerns and were assisted by the Air Wing who clocked the vehicle travelling at 175km/h in an 80km zone.
The Air Wing continued to follow the car and observed the driver pull over and park in the front yard of a property on Adam Avenue in Hallam.
A man and woman exited the vehicle and went into the house before returning with two others who allegedly removed the stolen number plates from the vehicle.
The group took the plates and went back inside the house, so police responded and established a cordon before arresting all four without incident.
Officers from the Public Order Response Team subsequently executed a search warrant at the address and located a second stolen car, a machete, electrical items and powers tools all believed to be the proceeds of crime.
Later that evening, police charged a 29-year-old Noble Park man with theft of motor vehicle, theft from motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering life, evade police, unlicensed driving, handle stolen goods and other offences. He was remanded to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
A 27-year-old Hallam man was charged with theft of motor vehicle, handle stolen goods, possess prohibited weapon and other offences, and was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
A 37-year-old Moe woman and a 32-year-old Hallam woman were released pending further enquiries.
