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Police have expanded their crackdown on the most repeated crimes across the Ballarat region, resulting in 25 people arrested and charged as part of a combined operation.
The multi-division unit operation that has swooped on more than 50 properties in the region since Christmas has targeted a range of crimes but has focused on high volume incidents like the alleged torching of stolen cars.
The region has experienced a wave of the cars being destroyed over the last three months
The reported result of the operation is now 25 individuals arrested, with seven to remain behind bars and a further 18 bailed to face court at a later date
Detectives from Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit, Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit, Divisional Response Unit, Family Violence Unit, Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team and local police worked together on the crackdown.
Ballarat Crime Inspector Greg Payne said those arrested were alleged to have committed the kind of alleged crimes that caused significant damage to victims and the community.
"Crimes such as aggravated burglaries can have a major effect on the victims and a substantial impact on the broader community's perceptions of safety," Inspector Payne said.
"Our message to those committing these offences is clear - police will find you, we will hold you to account and we will ensure you do not continue to inflict harm on the local community."
Police released details of the seven who will remain locked up until their court appearances including;
A 26-year-old Delacombe male who has been charged with aggravated burglary, theft of motor car, arson, carjacking, theft and associated offences.
A 29-year-old Creswick male who has been charged with aggravated burglary, theft of motor car, arson, theft and associated offences.
. A 24-year-old Ballarat male who has been charged with aggravated burglary,
theft of motor car, theft and associated offences.
. A 27 year-old Ballarat male who has been charged with theft of motor car, theft
and associated offences.
. A 37-year-old Ballarat male who has been charged with aggravated burglary,
theft and associated offences.
. A 16-year-old Wendouree male who has been charged with aggravated burglary,
theft of motor car, theft and associated offences.
. A 45-year-old Wyndham Vale male who has been charged with theft of copper wiring and tools.
A further 18 people have been charged and bailed to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court for a variety of offences including burglary, theft of motor car, and theft from motor cars.
"Officers right across the Ballarat region are committed to keeping the community safe by holding offenders to account and preventing crime," Inspector Payne said.
"It is essential that the local community understands that the best method of preventing crimes such as theft and motor car theft is by ensuring they follow basic security procedures for their homes, cars and safe storage of property. It is also important if you see something - say something"
EARLIER
Police have charged more than a dozen people in a bid to reduce the amount of high-volume offences in the Ballarat region.
Detective Sergeant Ross Andrews told The Courier the operation targeted high-volume offenders known to police in the region.
"This was an operation that took place over the past seven days," he said.
"It mainly concerned targeting those with outstanding offences... The group of (15) offenders who were charged make up a large contribution of the region's high-volume offences, such as the theft of cars, burning of cars and aggravated burglary."
The full list of offences also included carjacking, aggravated burglary, burglary and failing to stop for police.
Detective Sergeant Andrews added the arrests and subsequent charges were a result of a joint effort by a number of intelligence agencies in Ballarat.
"It took a concerted effort and a coordinated response from all the intelligence agencies in the region to get these individuals charged," he said.
He hopes the operation both sends a message to offenders and helps ease stress the public may be feeling.
"The biggest point of the operation is to increase community confidence in the police and take high-frequency offenders away from possible victims."
This continues a period of time which has seen police swoop on high-volume offenders quickly, such as when a trio were arrested in dramatic fashion after burning a stolen car in the Canadian State Forest and stealing another car.
After that incident in mid-December, a Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit spokesperson said: "The plan is to send the message out there that we're going to keep going and we're going to stop crime in this area".
Police urge anyone who may have information regarding high-volume offenders to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Ballarat CIU on 5336 6080.
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