Ten arrested in Ballarat overnight crime blitz

Ten people have been arrested and 11 allegedly stolen vehicles recovered during a major overnight police operation targeting car thefts, dangerous driving and other volume crime across Ballarat.

Operation Talon, which ran over four nights between 15 and 18 July, brought together local police with specialist units including the Air Wing and Dog Squad to patrol the city while most residents were asleep.

One of the operation’s key arrests followed an alleged police pursuit in Sebastopol about 11.20pm on 18 July.

Police allege they spotted a white Subaru being driven erratically before attempting to intercept it. The driver allegedly failed to stop and drove away at speed.

The Air Wing tracked the vehicle from above before officers deployed stop sticks in Wendouree, bringing the car to a stop on Park Street. Two occupants allegedly fled on foot before police arrested both nearby after one allegedly jumped several property fences.

A 22-year-old Sebastopol man and an 18-year-old Ballarat North man have since been charged with a range of alleged car theft and traffic offences.

Earlier that evening, police on patrol in Alfredton allegedly observed a black Ford Falcon without registration plates perform a burnout at the intersection of Learmonth and Latrobe streets about 10.25pm.

Police allege the driver failed to stop and reached speeds of up to 120km/h before the Air Wing tracked the vehicle to Winter Valley, where two occupants allegedly attempted to hide outside a nearby home.

A 20-year-old Mt Wallace man was arrested and charged with dangerous driving while being pursued by police, driving in a manner dangerous, careless driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and failing to stop on police direction.

A 21-year-old Mt Egerton man was arrested and charged with possessing cocaine and resisting arrest.

The four men were among 10 people arrested during the operation.

Across the four nights, police recovered 11 stolen vehicles, impounded two vehicles for traffic offences and carried out eight bail compliance checks.

Operation Talon will continue across the Ballarat region, with the Divisional Crime Investigation Team, Highway Patrol, local detectives and specialist police continuing to target car theft, dangerous driving and other volume crime.