Community
20 June, 2024
Charges laid following alleged manhunt
A BLACK car which was believed to have been involved in a truck theft has been impounded by Warrnambool Police on Darlington-Camperdown Road last week.
Warrnambool Police detective sergeant Kim Wheeler said the impounded vehicle was believed to have been heading to Dundonnell to collect two offenders who had allegedly stolen work trucks from a Warrnambool business.
“There was a third person who will also receive charges, who was driving to the location where the trucks were to pick up the two offenders,” she said.
“That vehicle was trying to avoid police – that’s why it ended up impounded, because it lost traction on the road.
“That person will be charged in relation to driving offences.”
Det Sgt Wheeler said the theft of the work trucks had allegedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday, June 13.
“The stolen trucks were observed by police later that morning in the Dundonnell area,” she said.
“Police had tried to intercept the trucks, but they had failed to stop and the offenders had run off into nearby paddocks. “That resulted in a four-hour manhunt looking for the offenders because it was quite a big area.
“The other two offenders that had stolen the trucks were located shortly after in the adjacent rural properties where the police were searching.”
Both offenders were arrested and bailed to appear at the Warrnambool Magistrates Court on July 22.
Det Sgt Wheeler reminded residents to ensure all work equipment was stored and locked correctly to prevent opportunistic crime.