UPDATE: Police have arrested a 16-year-old Lara boy and eight other people in Geelong raids.
Police arrested 57 youths in raids across Victoria, including at Lara and Norlane, in a three-day, state-wide operation this week.
Detectives executed warrants across Melbourne and regional Victoria as part of Operation Liege, with the majority of those arrested aged 15 to 21.
Police laid multiple charges for offences including carjacking, aggravated burglary, robbery and vehicle crime linked to serious offending.
The operation resulted from a state-wide “investigative capability” established in July to disrupt high-harm, high-impact youth offending, North West Metro Region Commander Tim Hansen said.
Detectives across Victoria shared intelligence to identify a priority list of people wanted by police to ensure their arrest, he explained on Tuesday.
Operation Liege targetted offenders who allegedly caused significant harm to victims and impacted on the community’s “feelings of safety”, Cmdr Hansen said.
“These crimes include carjackings, aggravated burglaries, armed robbery and serious street robberies – all horrendous crimes which leave a long-lasting impact on victims.
“Our message to those committing these offences is clear – police will find you, we will hold you to account and we will ensure you do not continue to inflict harm on the Victorian community.”
The operation follows Taskforce Burns’ investigation into a series of group thefts at retail, electronic and phone stores across the state between July and September.
Detectives charged 34 offenders aged between 13 and 19 with more than 150 offences including robbery and shop theft.
Operation Liege and other localised initiatives had resulted in hundreds of arrests, Cmdr Hansen said.
“Officers right across Victoria are working hard every day to keep the community safe by holding offenders to account and prevent youth-related crime.”
Local police had also “proactively” managed bail compliance of high-risk persons of interest and worked with partner agencies to help them find education and employment, Cmdr Hansen added.
Police also executed warrants at Cranbourne, Clyde North, Dandenong, Narre Warren, Frankston, Pakenham, Reservoir, Sunshine and Truganina.
