Two men arrested over stolen excavator

Tara Murray

Two men have been arrested following a police pursuit involving a stolen excavator and trailer on Sunday night.

Police allege a 1.7 tonne excavator and trailer were stolen from Webbs Avenue, Hillside just after 11.30pm.

The trailer was hooked up to a red Holden which failed to stop and collided with a police vehicle when it arrived on scene.

Stop sticks were successfully deployed, however the vehicle continued driving west on Barwon Avenue. The police Airwing monitored the vehicle.

Police allege a 24-year-old Tullamarine man jumped out of the car. He was arrested nearby without incident.

The vehicle came to a stop alongside Melrose Drive and a male driver refused to get out of the vehicle. When a ruptured fuel tank caught fire police forcibly removed a man from the car.

The fire was extinguished, however the vehicle was extensively damaged. The excavator and trailer were not damaged during the incident.

Two men remain in custody. Investigations are ongoing.