Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology has been working to identify stolen cars and number plates across the northern suburbs.
Introduced in August last year, the technology has scanned nearly 120,000 vehicles and provided leads to recover 26 stolen cars and 130 false number plates, according to Victoria Police.
Police running the operation use the technology to ascertain the registration details to identify suspended, unlicensed and unregistered drivers.
“We can identify a stolen car or unlicensed driver in a matter of seconds,” Inspector Andrew Markarkis said.
Police have been actively patrolling main streets while maintaining investigations on residential smaller and quieter streets where parked cars are often stolen.
Nine people have been arrested to date.
Police said two of the most notable incidents was in Broadmeadows.
In August last year, a car on Widford Street was scanned and allegedly failed to stop for police.
Police alleged the car was stolen.
The occupants were later arrested in Essendon.
In the second incident, a car scanned on Widford Street in January was found to have false plates and was allegedly stolen from Glen Waverly.
