In the heart of Melbourne's criminal underworld, a night on patrol unfolds with an air of excitement and danger. The battle against crime is a relentless pursuit, and this is just one chapter in the ongoing story of law enforcement.
As the clock strikes midnight, a call comes in, alerting the police to a suspicious stolen car. The air wing helicopter, a vital asset, has its eyes on a silver ute speeding towards the outskirts of the city. A team of dedicated officers, led by Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Lewis, is on the move.
"We're heading north, towards the river," a voice echoes over the radio, setting the stage for an intense night of action.
In Melbourne's outer west, a region experiencing a surge in serious crimes, Lewis and his team are on high alert. Operation Shows, a specialized night operation, was launched in 2022 to tackle the rising tide of home invasions, carjackings, and violent crimes plaguing the Wyndham area.
But here's where it gets controversial... This isn't the first time police have encountered this particular stolen vehicle. Earlier, it had refused to stop for police on Ballan Road, leading to a high-speed chase. Now, it's heading down a dirt road, surrounded by paddocks and dead-end paths leading to the Werribee River. It's a desolate location, often used by criminals to hide their stolen goods or evade pursuit.
And this is the part most people miss... Just a few weeks prior, I was at this very spot, accompanying private security guards keeping watch over nearby housing estates. It's a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against crime.
This time, however, the driver of the stolen ute has met his match. He becomes stuck in a ditch while trying to navigate through the bush, and the air wing is hovering above, tracking his every move.
The next few minutes are a blur of action. Officers swarm the area, intercepting a man attempting to flee on a bike pulled from the trapped ute. The driver, a 30-year-old man from Sunshine West, is arrested, sporting an unkempt beard and an Uber Eats jacket.
But the story doesn't end there. A Belgian Malinois named Blue, a member of the police dog squad, brings in the third arrest - a 38-year-old man from Footscray who tried to escape through the bush. Blue's handler, Leading Senior Constable Brendan Williams, praises his canine partner, "He's a cracker, a really good dog."
Here's a curious twist... Blue, originally from the Netherlands, only followed commands in Dutch when he joined the Victoria Police. Williams had to learn Dutch prompts and retrain Blue to understand English commands. "I've got a list at home of all the different commands I had to learn," he shares.
All three men involved in the air wing pursuit now face charges for theft and motor vehicle theft. The driver also faces additional charges for driving while disqualified and failing to stop for police.
They are just a few of the 15 arrests made by Operation Shows officers over the course of two nights. During this time, officers also checked an impressive 464 vehicles, recovered four stolen cars, and impounded nine vehicles for various offenses, including suspended licenses, speeding, and drink-driving.
In just six hours on the road with Lewis, The Age witnessed six arrests and several extended vehicle follows, where police trail a car for extended periods. It's a constant stream of action, with unrelated police jobs pouring in through the car's speaker, attended to by regular uniformed officers in the west. From a man wielding a crowbar to a family violence dispute and even a dead kangaroo, it's a diverse range of incidents.
Operation Shows' results over two nights are impressive:
- 15 arrests
- 11 infringement notices issued for various offenses
- 464 vehicles checked
- 143 vehicles intercepted
- 57 breath tests conducted
- 9 vehicles impounded for a range of offenses
- 4 stolen vehicles recovered
Among those charged was a 21-year-old man caught driving at 150km/h in a 60km/h zone in Hoppers Crossing. He had been disqualified from driving and was allegedly under the influence. The police helicopter tracked him to Old Track Place, where ground crews made the arrest.
There was also a 41-year-old man charged with stealing a car after driving a stolen Mazda in Hoppers Crossing, and a 24-year-old man from Corio expected to be charged for failing to stop, dangerous driving, running a red light, and speeding above 105km/h in a 70km/h zone.
The officers' work is complex and often dangerous. They must anticipate offenders' moves, intercepting them before they become a threat to others. Whether it's ambushing them down a dirt road or deploying stop sticks to puncture tires, the air wing plays a crucial role in providing real-time intelligence.
Lewis emphasizes the importance of these operations, "We know people don't steal cars just to get from A to B." It's about sending a message to the community that police are actively patrolling, even if they're in unmarked cars and not always in uniform.
Patrolling the west is a challenging task. The area's population is booming, but newer housing estates are often isolated, making them attractive targets for criminals. Large family homes sit next to construction sites, attracting crooks looking to steal valuable items like copper and tools. Additionally, the region faces issues with warring youth gangs.
A coroner's report last month revealed that more than half of Victoria's young gang violence occurs in Melbourne's north-west. As of mid-2023, police believe around 350 young gang members were operating in the area. It's a dangerous situation, with police cars being rammed at petrol stations in Tarneit.
On one occasion, the air wing followed a car through Tarneit, leading to the arrest of two individuals. Inside the car, officers found a significant amount of cash, a firearm, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and drugs.
Lewis sees the busy nature of the north-west district as an opportunity for police officers. The area offers a diverse range of environments, from farmland and industrial estates to older and newer housing. It's also home to the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Centre and a new court. The population is incredibly culturally diverse.
"It's a great training ground for officers to develop their skills and engage with the community proactively and reactively," Lewis explains.
As the night draws to a close, we return to the command post at Werribee police station around 2:30 am. Senior Sergeant Peter West and a few officers are in a small meeting room on an empty office floor. The walls are covered with maps, and a large TV displays a live feed from the helicopter camera. The only sound is the steady chatter of the radio.
The air wing is tracking a car with stolen plates from Shepparton. Crews have been tailing it from a distance, but it appears to be heading back towards northern Victoria.
"Call Shepparton," West instructs an officer. It seems this one might be left to the local teams.
The battle against crime continues, and the dedicated officers of Operation Shows are always on the front lines, ensuring the safety of the community.
