Four men allegedly car-jacked a pregnant woman before a police chase across the Bellarine Peninsula on Wednesday night.
The 30-year-old woman was left unwilling to “participate in any media” after the men allegedly force her off the road, Victoria Police said on Thursday.
The group also robbed an elderly man of his vehicle during a home invasion at Queenscliff earlier the same night, police said.
Detectives investigated the “series of incidents” on Thursday after finding the woman’s vehicle burnt-out at Lovely Banks. They believed the men were now on the loose in two other stolen vehicles.
The incidents began about 10.30pm when the offenders broke into the man’s Raglan Street house and stole keys to a Volkswagen in the driveway, police said.
“A 72-year-old man, home at the time of the aggravated burglary, was not injured. The offenders have stolen the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, registration 1HL 8EU, from the driveway and a short time later Highway Patrol members have sighted it travelling west on the Bellarine Highway, Leopold.
“Numerous police members followed the vehicle before setting up stop sticks in Marcus Hill. The driver drove over them and later onto the wrong side of the road before police terminated the pursuit.
The offenders then drove toward the woman’s white Nissan SUV, registration 1CM 6HV, at 11.15pm as she drove east on the Bellarine Highway.
“The Ocean Grove woman pulled over to the side of the road to avoid the vehicle and four men then forced her from her car,” Victoria Police said.
“She was not physically injured during the incident.
“The quartet then fled towards Geelong in her Nissan, which was later found burnt out on Valley Side Drive, Lovely Banks, about 50 metres north of Daffodil Court.”
Detectives believed the men were now travelling in two vehicles stolen from Torquay and Lara, Victoria Police said.
“The first vehicle, a white 2006 Subaru Station wagon with registration WEZ 728, was stolen from a Torquay residence overnight on 19 July.
“The second vehicle, a black Ford Territory with registration ZKO 762, was stolen from a Lara residence about 3.45pm on 20 July.
“The Territory was later seen that day at a service station on the Midland Highway, Bannockburn, at 5.45pm where fuel was stolen.”
Detectives released an image of the Territory with a man who they believed “may be able to assist with the investigation”.
