Operation TORIC catches another repeat offender
A 30-year-old Higgins man faced the ACT Magistrates Court today (7 September 2022) after he allegedly engaged in a series of thefts and the unauthorised sale of a vehicle.
This arrest was made by officers attached to Operation TORIC who have made 33 arrests and laid 115 charges since the operation began in August.
About 3.45am on Saturday 13 August 2022, a Ford Ranger utility was stolen from a residence in Gundaroo. A few days later, police received reports of number plates being stolen from vehicles at a residence in Dunlop.
The Ford Ranger was later observed pulling into a service station in Charnwood where the passenger of the car filled up the tank with fuel before the driver left without paying.
About 6.40am on Monday 5 September, a Subaru Forester was stolen from a residence in Coombs.
Yesterday (Tuesday, 6 September 2022) both the Ranger and Forester were observed exiting a residence in Yarralumla by police conducting routine patrols.
Officers followed the vehicles to a metal scrap yard and observed a man allegedly sell the Subaru Forester for scrap before leaving in the Ford Ranger.
The man and his passenger were arrested a short time later while they attended a Mitchell takeaway store.
The man has been charged with two counts of driving a motor vehicle without consent, two counts of numberplates being issued for another vehicle, and single counts of driving while disqualified, obtaining financial advantage by deception and theft.
He is set to face the ACT Magistrates Court today where police will oppose bail.
The female passenger was charged with one count of ride/drive a motor vehicle without consent. She was provided police bail to attend court at a later date.
Police are urging Canberrans to secure their vehicles and homes following continuing easy vehicle thefts. The majority of vehicle thefts in the ACT have been stolen with the vehicle’s key.
Lock your home. Lock your car – every time. And do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
ACT Policing is also warning the community about the issue of number plate theft. Criminals regularly steal number plates and place them on a stolen vehicle to avoid police detection.
Canberrans can secure their plates with tamper-proof screws – available free at all police stations.
Media enquiries
Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au