Police go online to track down hoons

Updated November 7 2012 - 1:49am, first published February 20 2009 - 11:33am
FACEBOOK FOLLY: Castlemaine police have identified a driver after investigations into a burnout video.
FACEBOOK FOLLY: Castlemaine police have identified a driver after investigations into a burnout video.

TRAWLING websites including YouTube and Facebook has become the latest tool for police waging a war against hoon behaviour.Two central Victorian men were charged this week following online investigations.A Castlemaine man has been charged after police found images of his alleged crimes on Facebook.The 20-year-old will face court in April, and police are poised to make an application to seek forfeiture of the vehicle.He is facing charges including criminal damage, driving in a manner dangerous, reckless driving, careless driving and improper use of a vehicle.The incident happened last November.“It was through some investigation . . . he put the photos on his Facebook page bragging about it,” Senior Constable Grant Healy said.An anonymous tipster led police to the site.“I made some inquires and ended up tracking the where and when, and who was there, and we’ve since got statements from all those involved.” Police said the man made admissions when inter viewed, and confirmed they had plans to make an application to the court to have the man’s $30,000 car sold at auction.The 20-year-old has been bailed to appear at Castlemaine Magistrates Court on April 17.Bendigo police also have gone online to nab offending drivers.Yesterday the traffic management unit charged a 19-year-old man with eight offences after he uploaded video of his hoon activity onto YouTube. Senior Constable Peter Dyer said the California Gully man was nabbed after a police member saw the clip online.The videos, which were removed yesterday by the owner, show the car completing a series of doughnuts and burnouts at two Bendigo locations.Senior Constable Dyer said investigations led police to identify the car and its owner.The man will face Bendigo Magistrates Court at a date to be fixed.

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