The city’s highest ranking police officer Superintendent Andrew Allen said the 31 arrests made by police during Operation Reorder had led to an almost immediate decrease in the number of aggravated burglaries, car thefts and break-ins in the Ballarat area. 

The strident response follows community disquiet about the elevated level of burglaries and car thefts and the fear groups of habitual criminals, especially young delinquents, were repeat offending with impunity.

Supt. Allen said police units had quickly swooped and arrested groups of youth and adult offenders who had largely working in groups to commit “high-volume crime”.  

Police checked over 600 cars during the operation and spoke to over 370 people.

“We saw an immediate decrease in crime on the weekend across various crime categories,” Superintendent Allen said.

 “A number of other identified young people were charged and put before the courts,” Superintendent Allen said.

“We had identified various groups – under 18 year-olds or adults offenders and targeted and tasked our resource unit to zero in. We have done our homework and we have seen good results.” 

Superintendent Allen said results showed many of the crimes were linked.

He said police would continue to focus on all areas of crime and would continue to release names of wanted offenders through a joint CrimeStoppers and The Courier campaign that had so far yielded excellent results.

“To get six out of six alleged offenders, to have them identified and arrested in less than a week speaks volumes.”

Further stories;

Ballarat police will provide security audits to all car businesses that have been targeted by brazen car thieves in recent months. 

Car dealership owners are adamant the power of numbers will help them win a war against brazen offenders who break into businesses – stealing cars and livelihoods.

Kings Cars owner Peter King said more than 15 dealership owners convened on Tuesday to discuss proactive ways they could reduce the likelihood of criminals targeting their businesses. 

A major rise in the number of thefts from car dealerships, some as high as 21 from a single dealership in less than a year, led the owners to hold the crisis meeting.

“It was a good meeting that was focused on getting us together to see what we could to do help ourselves and help customers– such as fitting the cars with anti-theft number plates, which we have decided to do,” Mr King said.

Mr King said he was in talks with police and other community members about holding semi-regular meetings that could increase the number of proactive measures police were taking. 

“One place has had over 20 cars stolen, we’ve had a car that was dropped off for a service stolen. That car was used in a burglary in Bendigo and found burnt out in Creswick,” Mr King said.

“Every (dealership) has had cars stolen. If it was one a year it would be news … this is an epidemic.

“We know Ballarat is a great community and we do want to attract people to Ballarat for the right reasons.” 

Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen said police were urging businesses to look at their security measures and had encouraged car hire companies to remove key drop off boxes, which were a common and easy target for offenders.

“Our message is prevention of opportunity for such thefts,” Superintendent Allen said.

“(We urge) dealers to verify identification and take licences or similar as security for test drives.”  

Superintendent Allen said police would fully support community groups who were working proactively to target-harden their businesses. 

“We’re here to assist, we have advised them that we have made a number of arrests (over car thefts) in recent months,” Superintendent Allen said. Mr King hopes to get other businesses and business committees on board. 

Superintendent Allen urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.