A six-month operation in Melbourne’s northern suburbs has led to the restoration of 26 stolen automobiles and the seizure of greater than 130 counterfeit quantity plates.
Victoria Police has been working Operation Boston within the Merri-bek area of Melbourne since August 2024, with officers utilizing cutting-edge know-how to extra successfully detect stolen automobiles and incorrect quantity plates.
Because the begin of the operation, Automated Quantity Plate Recognition (ANPR) know-how has been used to scan virtually 120,000 automobiles, offering near-instantaneous registration particulars to detect suspended, unlicensed and unregistered drivers.
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Whereas police have primarily focused high-volume roads equivalent to Sydney Street, Lygon Road and Bell Road, officers have additionally been doing the rounds on residential streets because of the chance of stolen automobiles being parked in quieter areas in a single day.
No less than 9 arrests have been made for the reason that operation started in August, although Victoria Police says full knowledge isn’t obtainable attributable to its Protected Industrial Motion which was working by more often than not interval.
In response to Victoria Police, greater than a 3rd of automobiles focused by criminals within the area confirmed no indicators of compelled entry, prompting police to remind the group to make sure their automobiles are locked always.
“Utilizing ANPR know-how means we will scan automobiles at a speedy fee. We will establish a stolen automotive or unlicensed driver in a matter of seconds,” stated Merri-bek Native Space Commander Inspector Andrew Markarkis in a media assertion.
“It’s already assisted in recovering 26 stolen vehicles, and almost 130 false quantity plates. We’ve made a number of arrests and we’ve extra intently in our sights.
“Sadly, we proceed to see folks fall sufferer to opportunistic thefts as a result of their vehicles are left unlocked, or they’ve valuables in plain sight.
“That’s why we’re urging the group to at all times guarantee automobiles are locked, even when parked in a safe driveway, and valuables are eliminated.”
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