New details have emerged after the Air Wing was called to Ballarat on a hunt for car thieves.
Ballarat Police requested the help of the Victoria Police Air Wing in relation to recent erratic driving and stolen cars on Tuesday night – nabbing four alleged offenders in three separate incidents.
The first stolen car was spotted by the chopper in a car wash on Geelong Road, Mt. Clear about 12.30am Wednesday.
It was followed as it sped dangerously and crossed on to the wrong side of the road before a 56-year-old Mt. Helen man was arrested at a Mt. Helen residence and the stolen car was seized.
Ballarat police then saw a second stolen vehicle on Elsworth Street, Mt. Pleasant, driving erratically and notified Air Wing who tracked it around 1am to Gillies Street, Alfredton, where a 26-year-old Mt Pleasant man was arrested. During the arrest, a third stolen vehicle was located and seized in the backyard of the Alfredton residence.
Air Wing spotted a fourth stolen vehicle driving erratically on Whites Road, Cardigan at about 1.25am; the car failed to stop at the direction of Ballarat Police.
It was followed to Holly Grove, Wendouree and then into the nearby Ring Road Reserve where two people allegedly jumped out of the stolen car and set it alight before taking off on foot.
With Air Wing’s assistance, Ballarat Police were able to arrest a 26-year old Alfredton man and a 25-year-old Wendouree man.
It’s been reported one of the men, Christopher Edwards, was refused bail after appearing in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, charged with the theft of a motor vehicle, arson and refusing to stop on the order of a police officer.
He was on bail and serving a community corrections order at the time of the alleged offending. He’s due back in court on February 13.
All men arrested are assisting police with their enquiries.
