Some of the drugs and weapons seized during the operation.
Camera IconSome of the drugs and weapons seized during the operation. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Wanneroo police target ‘high harm’ houses in large crackdown

Mark DonaldsonWanneroo Times

HOUSES police consider “high harm” were targeted in a recent operation by Wanneroo officers.

Police searched three properties where they seized drugs and laid 14 charges between six people on April 21.

Charges included possession of drugs with intent to sell or supply, possession of weapons and possession of stolen property.

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Wanneroo Senior Sergeant Simon Hazell said the police seizure and resulting charges would “send a message to the people who peddle that sort of rubbish in the community”.

He said police had identified the residences as “high-harm”.

“Those houses in suburbs where they’re causing the community some stress and affecting their way of life by way of drug dealing or dealing in stolen goods,” he said.

“We found a reasonable amount of drugs, weapons and stolen property.

“It was lots of little amounts (of drugs) – we didn’t find the motherload of 2kg of meth or anything like that.

“But it was lots of little bags, which is where the intent to sell or supply comes from.”

Officers also targeted Banksia Grove, Wanneroo, Wangara and Landsdale – suburbs Sen-Sgt Hazell described as problem areas for “volume crime” such as burglaries, car thefts and vehicle break-ins.

He said about 40 extra officers were added to the Wanneroo policing area for the day’s operation.

This included a booze bus in Hocking where police charged 12 people with offences including drink driving, possession of heroin and robbery.

Sen-Sgt Hazell explained the booze bus stops often gave officers reason to search the vehicle, which uncovered other crimes.

“In line with our legislation, we could find reasons to search the vehicle, it could be drug history, it could be weapons charges or it could be there’s an alert on the vehicle for something else,” he said.

He said police would plan another similar operation in Wanneroo and surrounding suburbs soon.