Update, 7.35pm Police have confirmed a male from Creswick has been charged with two counts of car theft. He has been bailed. No court date has yet been set. A male and a female remain in custody but have not been charged. PREVIOUSLY Three people believed to be involved in deliberately setting cars on fire are in custody after a police helicopter chase this afternoon. Police told The Courier two males and one female were in a white Subaru sedan driving along Forest Street, Wendouree outside Ballarat Grammar before realising they were being pursued by a police helicopter. Police believe they did a u-turn and smashed into an oncoming small white truck about 1.15pm before fleeing the scene. WATCH INTERVIEW WITH DETECTIVE SERGEANT ROSS ANDREWS BELOW Police have since confirmed the female was captured close to the car and the two males ran to Dare Street. One was captured in a block of units, while the other was arrested in a street. It is believed the trio was involved with a car fire in Canadian State Forest earlier in the day. "We've been conducting an investigation in relation to a number of car fires in and around the Ballarat area with stolen cars," Detective Sergeant Ross Andrews said. "That culminated today in the arrest of the people who we suspect of being involved in those incidents. "We've had the air wing (helicopter) up to assist us in the investigation... when that vehicle has noticed it was following them I believe they might have done a u-turn here in Forest Street and driven on the wrong side of the road for a short distance before colliding with the truck." The female has minor injuries following the incident. Detective Sergeant Andrews confirmed the three people arrested were suspected of a car fire in the Canadian forest this morning. Police and fire crews were called to the intersection of Boundary Road and Foos Lane following reports a car was on fire about 10.30am. The car was confirmed as an outstanding stolen vehicle and the fire has been deemed suspicious. More to come. Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
Police have confirmed a male from Creswick has been charged with two counts of car theft. He has been bailed. No court date has yet been set.
A male and a female remain in custody but have not been charged.
PREVIOUSLY
Three people believed to be involved in deliberately setting cars on fire are in custody after a police helicopter chase this afternoon.
Police told The Courier two males and one female were in a white Subaru sedan driving along Forest Street, Wendouree outside Ballarat Grammar before realising they were being pursued by a police helicopter.
Police believe they did a u-turn and smashed into an oncoming small white truck about 1.15pm before fleeing the scene.
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH DETECTIVE SERGEANT ROSS ANDREWS BELOW
Police charge Creswick man after helicopter pursuit near Ballarat school
Police have since confirmed the female was captured close to the car and the two males ran to Dare Street. One was captured in a block of units, while the other was arrested in a street.
It is believed the trio was involved with a car fire in Canadian State Forest earlier in the day.
"We've been conducting an investigation in relation to a number of car fires in and around the Ballarat area with stolen cars," Detective Sergeant Ross Andrews said.
"That culminated today in the arrest of the people who we suspect of being involved in those incidents.
"We've had the air wing (helicopter) up to assist us in the investigation... when that vehicle has noticed it was following them I believe they might have done a u-turn here in Forest Street and driven on the wrong side of the road for a short distance before colliding with the truck."
The female has minor injuries following the incident.
Detective Sergeant Andrews confirmed the three people arrested were suspected of a car fire in the Canadian forest this morning.
The car destroyed by a suspicious fire in the Canadian Forest on Thursday morning.
Police and fire crews were called to the intersection of Boundary Road and Foos Lane following reports a car was on fire about 10.30am.
The car was confirmed as an outstanding stolen vehicle and the fire has been deemed suspicious.
More to come.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
