A dangerous northern suburbs hoon dubbed the “black bandit” who posts his reckless stunts online, is in the sights of the new head of the Epping Highway Patrol unit.
Senior Sergeant Tom Bentley has vowed to “hunt him down” after the “bandit” posted videos of himself doing wheelies and burn-outs in Thomastown, egging others to copy his illegal activities and “baiting” police. “It would be better if he gave himself up; he will be caught and charged and I will apply to the court to seize his car and crush it,” he said.
The driver removed the number plates of his black Commodore for the online videos, but left a distinctive Chevrolet badge on the rear boot.
“We want people who know the black bandit or a neighbour who has seen his black Commodore to report him to the ‘hoon hotline’ – 1800 333 000,” Mr Bentley said.
He said the bandit was only one hoon who would face a new proactive approach to stamping out bad driving in the City of Whittlesea.
Police would routinely pull over red P-plate drivers – a group over-represented in crashes, to make sure “they know they are under the microscope; we are watching them”, Mr Bentley said.
Police would also door-knock areas where hoons were thought to reside and inform parents if their cars had been reported for hoon behaviour involving their children, he said.
