New Division Response Unit based in Dandenong will aim to hunt down area’s most wanted criminals
THESE are the faces of the southeast’s most wanted — alleged car thieves, burglars, vandals and violent thugs.
And they are being targeted by a new police taskforce formed to hunt them down.
The Division Response Unit (DRU) will focus on finding fugitives and busting drug operations across the southeast.
“We are targeting our most wanted warrants, those on bail, those wanted for crimes and those that are still causing harm in the community, among our drug focus as well,” DRU chief John Bergin said.
The 20-strong unit is based at Dandenong police station.
“The whole division is impacted greatly by drug-related crime,” Sen-Sgt Bergin said.
“The volume of crime is serious — we are hell bent on targeting that.
“Traditionally each (police service area) has tackled this sort of thing individually, but this is … a centralised approach to put in our best service.”
Among those on the unit’s radar are these four, wanted for offences including assaulting police, stealing cars, aggravated burglary and handling stolen goods.
Sen-Sgt Bergin said help from the public could greatly help the team track these fugitives down.
“The best outcome for us and the community is a safe environment and that’s what we’re hoping to provide,” he said.
“We’d encourage anyone who has information on the whereabouts of these individuals to contact Crime Stoppers.”
Despite only being active for about a fortnight, the team has already made more than 15 arrests.
Crime Statistics Agency data shows crime across the three areas jumped a dramatic 51 per cent in the past five years.
Both Greater Dandenong and Casey both have recorded more than 20,000 offences in the past 12 months.