Police stop a car during the operation.
Camera IconPolice stop a car during the operation. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Wanneroo Police target car theft spate in Perth’s north

Mark DonaldsonWanneroo Times

The move proved fruitful, according to Wanneroo Senior Sergeant Simon Hazell, with officers making 220 stops and laying 32 charges.

Two search warrants for homes resulted from the stops.

Police targeted notorious problem areas such as Wangara, Wanneroo, Banksia Grove and Landsdale.

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Sen-Sgt Hazell said police patrolled the suburbs in marked and unmarked cars during hours when suspicious vehicles might roam.

“The police were just looking for cars that had no reason to be there,” he said.

“We’ve had a win in these areas but need the community to ramp up their anti-theft measures.”

While the focus of the operation was to reduce car theft, Sen-Sgt Hazell said the stops uncovered further crime.

“We were targeting vehicle thefts but as a by-product we found lots of drugs in cars,” he said. The 32 charges included vehicle theft, burglary and drug offences.

While vehicle thefts are still up by 45 per cent on last year, Sen-Sgt Hazell said the Wanneroo sub-district, which stretches from Darch up to Pinjar, had experienced a 7 per cent reduction in vehicle theft over the past month.

The operation will continue during April.