A six-month operation in Melbourne’s northern suburbs has led to the recovery of 26 stolen vehicles and the seizure of more than 130 counterfeit number plates.
Victoria Police has been running Operation Boston in the Merri-bek region of Melbourne since August 2024, with officers using cutting-edge technology to more effectively detect stolen vehicles and incorrect number plates.
Since the start of the operation, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology has been used to scan almost 120,000 vehicles, providing near-instantaneous registration details to detect suspended, unlicensed and unregistered drivers.
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While police have mainly targeted high-volume roads such as Sydney Road, Lygon Street and Bell Street, officers have also been doing the rounds on residential streets due to the likelihood of stolen vehicles being parked in quieter regions overnight.
At least nine arrests have been made since the operation began in August, though Victoria Police says full data isn’t available due to its Protected Industrial Action which was running through most of the time period.
According to Victoria Police, more than a third of vehicles targeted by criminals in the region showed no signs of forced entry, prompting police to remind the community to ensure their vehicles are locked at all times.
“Using ANPR technology means we can scan vehicles at a rapid rate. We can identify a stolen car or unlicensed driver in a matter of seconds,” said Merri-bek Local Area Commander Inspector Andrew Markarkis in a media statement.
“It’s already assisted in recovering 26 stolen cars, and nearly 130 false number plates. We’ve made several arrests and we have more closely in our sights.
“Unfortunately, we continue to see people fall victim to opportunistic thefts because their cars are left unlocked, or they have valuables in plain sight.
“That’s why we’re urging the community to always ensure vehicles are locked, even if parked in a secure driveway, and valuables are removed.”
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