Seventeen arrested in Southbank carpark crime crackdown

Victoria Police has arrested 17 people during a targeted operation to stamp out vehicle-related crime in Southbank’s multi-level carparks.

Operation Zenith, a joint effort between Victoria Police and Crown Security Services, ran over the evenings of July 18 to 20 and was launched in response to a sharp rise in car break-ins and thefts across the precinct.

According to police, thefts from cars in Southbank carparks have more than doubled over the past year. Alarming intelligence also revealed that up to 70 per cent of car break-ins and nearly half of vehicle thefts had not been reported.

Among those arrested were two “prolific car thieves” found in one of the carparks and taken into custody on outstanding warrants. Police also arrested a man in a vehicle in a carpark basement, where a search uncovered allegedly stolen numberplates and a small quantity of drugs.

Nine youths, aged between 15 and 21, were arrested following an alleged robbery at a liquor store on Flinders St on July 20. Police allege a group of boys assaulted the store attendant and made off with more than 20 bottles of alcohol. The group was swiftly located and arrested through the Safe City Network monitoring system.

Three further arrests were made for indecent behaviour, including urinating and engaging in sexual activity in vehicles.

Significantly, police reported no car thefts during the weekend operation.

Inspector Dale Huntington of the Melbourne East division said Operation Zenith was aimed at protecting community safety and restoring confidence for those living in Southbank.

“We have seen a sharp increase in cars being broken into at Southbank multi-storey carparks, hence our dedicated operation last week and ongoing patrols,” he said.

“A range of different offenders were arrested during this operation, which aimed to ensure those coming to enjoy the city continue to feel safe.”

“Unfortunately, some people fall victim to these opportunistic crimes because cars are left unlocked, or valuables are left out. We’d like to remind everyone to always ensure your vehicle is locked, especially when parking at a car park.”

Police said further operations and regular patrols in the area would continue.