By Derek Schlennstedt
Two people have been arrested in an anti-hoon operation on Wednesday 24 January, when police executed four warrants across parts of Melbourne, including Ferntree Gully.
The operation was part of Taskforce Regarder which comprises a team of detectives, highway patrol members and intelligence officers working to disrupt hoon gatherings and gather evidence against highly organised offending groups.
The arrests come after the crushing of eight vehicles on Friday 19 January that were seized by police following hoon-meets.
One of those vehicles was a grey Holden sedan which was crushed after a 23-year-old Belgrave South man was charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
The man was convicted in June 2016 where he was fined $1500 and had his licence cancelled and disqualified for 12 months.
Det Insp Daly, said that Victorians engaging in this type of hoon behaviour will face the full force of the law and that those taking part should take notice of the cars that are being crushed.
“My message to those that want to participate in this type of illegal hooning and skid activity is have a look at the crushed cars in today’s news, because that’s what’s going to happen to your car if you want to do this sort of thing,” he said.
After the morning’s operation, two men have been arrested in relation to planning and organising intentional high-risk driving between June and September 2017.
A 22-year-old Bentleigh East woman and 22-year-old Endeavour Hills woman have also been charged with conduct endangering serious injury, incitement; hinder police and a number of high risk driving offences.
Detective Inspector Mick Daly said the offenders were looking at serious criminal charges, including conduct endangering serious injury.
“Police have no tolerance for people who plan, organise or engage in deliberate, risky behaviour at hoon meets,” Det Insp Daly said.
“These irresponsible people, including the event organisers and drivers, place their lives and the lives of others at serious risk.”
“Today the focus was for four search warrants regarding organising the illegal street hoon activity, we’ll be alleging that the four organisers did just that – they organised people to gather on mass, and participate in these illegal and highly dangerous activities.”
