An 18-year-old Melton woman was among 26 people arrested last week in a police operation targeting illegal street racing.
Members of the Taskforce Regarder executed 20 warrants at properties across the state on Wednesday morning, charging 26 people and seizing 18 vehicles.
The taskforce was formed late last year in response to the increasing number of hoon gatherings across metropolitan Melbourne.
Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill described the offenders as “arrogant and over-confident” and said they faced serious criminal charges, including conduct endangering life.
“These irresponsible people, including the event organisers and drivers, place their lives and the lives of others at risk,” he said.
‘Plague on our suburbs’
“These hoons are arrogant, over-confident. Unfortunately, the reckless driving behaviour continues to plague our suburbs. They brag about their behaviour online and our message to them is: we see you, we’ll find you, we’ll charge you and seize your car,” Assistant Commissioner Hill said.
Police said many of those arrested last week were connected to the South East Skids, a group that organises illegal burn-out meets. It is suspected some were associated with another prominent group, the Northern Skids.
The arrests come a week after the deaths of two teenagers whose car plunged into a ravine at EJ Whitten Bridge. Harley Churchill, 19, and Ivana Clonaridis, 18, are believed to have attended a street gathering in the northern suburbs before the crash.
