By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
VICTORIA Police will not be drawn into pursuits by youths who steal cars from homes and try to “lure” officers into chasing them, a senior officer made clear this week.
Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill addressed reporters on Tuesday in relation to the spate of car thefts occurring throughout the state, with new figures putting Victoria ahead of New South Wales for the first time in the total number of car thefts.
The National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council statistics showed Victoria had a 5.6 per cent increase in the year to October, up to 14,381 from 13,620.
For many months Star News has reported on a disturbing series of home burglaries in Casey in which thieves break into houses, often through unlocked doors, steal keys and use them to make off with the occupants’ cars.
Changes made to policy earlier this year mean police can no longer pursue criminals on the road unless they are suspected of a crime involving serious injury, present an immediate danger to the public, or if no other means of arrest is available.
“They’re stealing these motor cars to bait police, to lure them in, or attempt to lure them into engaging in a police pursuit,” Asst Comm Robert Hill said.
“And Victoria Police is very firm in its position where we’re not going to engage in that unsafe police practice, of engaging a motor car that is stolen for instance in these circumstances, driven by a 15-year-old.
“A 15-year-old that’s inexperienced behind the wheel, a 15-year-old that is often drug affected.”
The assistant commissioner’s comments come after a stolen car was involved earlier this month in a fatal hit and run which claimed the life of a 47-year-old Carrum Downs mother.
An Endeavour Hills teenager linked to the incident was arrested last Thursday.
He was charged with armed robbery and assault related offences.
It’s believed the 18-year-old used the allegedly stolen BMW X5 during an armed robbery in Frankston three days before the car was involved in a crash in Mordialloc on Monday 9 November, after which victim Amanda Matheson died in hospital.
A 15-year-old teen was also remanded in custody last week in relation to the hit-and-run and will appear at a children’s court on Thursday 26 November.
It’s believed the 18-year-old from Endeavour Hills allegedly pulled out a gun when he stole a Ford XR6 from Bartlett Street in Frankston South on Friday 6 November about 2.40am.
He was arrested by Special Operations Group officers at a house in Gweno Avenue, Frankston, about 10.30am on Thursday 19 November.
The 18-year-old was charged by the Frankston Embona Armed Robbery Task Force.
“These people are brazen, these people have no regard for authority, no regard for law and order, no regard for their safety and the safety of the broader community,” Asst Comm Hill said.
“They’re stealing these motor cars predominantly to commit other crimes, and crimes of violence – car jackings, armed robberies, aggravated burglaries, commercial burglaries.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
