A Craigieburn woman and a Dallas man were among several people caught up in a police crackdown on crime at train station carparks across Melbourne’s north-west.
More than 30 police and protective services officers (PSOs) patrolled carparks along the Sunbury and Craigieburn lines, with officers focusing on railway stations including Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn, Sunbury, Watergardens, Keilor Plains, St Albans, Ginifer, Essendon and Coolaroo.
During the operation, a 53-year-old Craigieburn woman was found carrying a prohibited weapon – a knuckle duster with an attached taser. She was released pending summons.
In a separate incident, a 24-year-old Dallas man was caught driving while disqualified. His vehicle was immediately impounded at a cost of $966.
The operation also resulted in three arrests, including a 30-year-old St Albans man who allegedly tried to flee police in a stolen car without number plates at St Albans railway station. Police allege the vehicle rammed a police car before the man was arrested and charged with multiple offences. He remains in custody.
Two other men – a 22-year-old from St Albans and a 19-year-old from Melbourne – were also arrested in connection with motor vehicle theft and criminal damage.
Police spoke with more than 80 people, carried out over 1400 vehicle checks, and issued 12 penalty notices for traffic-related offences. Officers also intercepted three people allegedly driving unlicensed, suspended or disqualified.
Local police joined forces with Victoria Police’s Transit Safety Division and Public Order Response Team to run the operation, which Inspector Fiona Curnow said was designed to disrupt car theft and improve safety around station precincts.
“Police and PSOs will continue doing all they can to deter offenders and detect those who choose to break the law,” Inspector Curnow said.
