By Mitchell Clarke
Warrants have been executed across Pakenham and Cranbourne as part of a statewide operation targeting youth gangs and violent offenders.
Police across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria have made more than 250 arrests as part of Operation Alliance, which commenced on 13 September, in a bid to prevent, disrupt and dismantle youth street gangs.
The gangs are allegedly response for violent crimes including robberies, aggravated burglaries, serious assaults, car thefts and home invasions.
A total of 88 search warrants were executed across Pakenham, Cranbourne and Dandenong, as well as across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs.
A large majority of the alleged offenders have been boys and men aged in their mid-teens and mid-twenties.
Police say a number of items such as illicit firearms, drugs and weapons such as knives, tomahawks, swords, tasers, knuckle dusters and machetes were seized in the warrants.
Statewide, more than 250 arrests have so far been carried out and over 720 charges have been laid for offences including armed robbery, aggravated burglary, theft of motor vehicle, conduct endangering life, car theft, breach bail, firearm and drug offences.
Seventy of the alleged “serious” offenders have been remanded in custody and are awaiting a court date.
Deputy Commissioner regional operations Rick Nugent said the operation would continue to target youth offenders who had become engaged in the networked criminal offending causing the most harm within the community.
“Operation Alliance uses an integrated and coordinated approach to tackling youth gangs in every region, division and police service area across the state,” D/C Nugent said.
“This sees local police working alongside specialist units – sharing real-time intelligence and information, aligning enforcement activities and collaborating closely with external agencies who support our operations.”
D/C Nugent said youth gangs weren’t solely restricted to offending in their local neighbourhood.
He said offenders have no problems travelling across Melbourne or through the regions to commit further crimes.
“We make no apologies for targeting the individuals who commit the most serious and violent crimes in our community, whether that’s through arrests, bail compliance checks, proactive patrols in known hotspots, or issuing FPOs,” he said.
“We are utilising and sharing real-time intelligence to not only remain one step ahead of offenders to prevent further crimes from occurring, but to also identify and target the key influencers within these groups.”
Operation Alliance remains ongoing.
Any information about offences or gang activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
