Swoop nets boy, 9

By Callan Date
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy was one of seven people arrested during the first day of a new police operation in Casey.
Police have labelled the start of Operation Sturt – targeting motor vehicle, petrol and numberplate thefts – as a major success.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew Smart said the majority of offences occurred over the past two weeks with police swooping on their targets on Saturday.
Police were concerned that six of the seven arrested were under the age of 18.
Det Sen Const Smart said the operation would continue around the clock for the next month and would be then reviewed to determine its overall success.
He said members from the Narre Warren Tasking Unit, Cranbourne Tasking Unit and Casey Response Unit were all contributing to the operation.
“We are all working together to make sure we are not targeting the same people. The operation will be conducted right throughout the City of Casey,” he said.
Among those arrested and charged were:
A 26-year-old Narre Warren woman charged with theft of number plates and theft of petrol.
A 14-year-old Narre Warren South girl charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.
A 15-year-old Dandenong boy charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.
A 16-year-old Dandenong boy charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.
A 17-year-old Noble Park girl charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle.
A 13-year-old Hallam boy charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of theft from a motor vehicle. He was remanded in custody.
Everyone else charged was bailed with a curfew restricting their movement in public between 8pm and 8am.
All will appear before either the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court or Dandenong Children’s Court at a later date.
The nine-year-old St Kilda East boy who was arrested was unable to be charged due to his age.
Det Sen Const Smart said residents could help police by not storing any valuables in cars.
“People falsely believe that theft from motor vehicles only occurs at train stations and shopping centres,” he said.
“Most of the time these thefts happen in suburban streets. They will take anything that is not bolted down.”
Residents are also urged to fit their number plates with anti-theft screws to stem the flow of number plates being stolen.