THREE people have been arrested after a spate of incidents, including the theft of a car in Bendigo which was later found burnt out in a Melbourne suburb.
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It followed a series of incidents in Bendigo, the Mornington Peninsula, and Melbourne suburbs of Bentleigh, Blackburn, Carrum Downs and Toorak.
A 14-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys were charged with a range of offences after the incidents, including aggravated burglary and robbery.
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All three have been remanded in custody.
Incidents include the car allegedly stolen in Bendigo later found burnt out in Bentleigh.
Allegedly a stolen car from Toorak was also used to ram a police car, narrowly missing hitting several police officers.
It was part of a broader crack down on serious offending throughout January, including the arrest of eight teenagers after a series of incidents between December 30 and January 6.
They included an alleged aggravated burglary in Kew, Melbourne, during which two luxury vehicles were stolen.
These were allegedly used later in a robbery in Yarraville, Melbourne.
Four of the teenagers were arrested after they attempted to evade police in one of the stolen cars on the Monash Freeway.
Air Wing followed the vehicle travelling erratically at times, at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, before its occupants were arrested.
The eight teens - aged between 14 and 18-years-old, were charged with a range of offences, including aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and driving offences.
Police have urged people to take steps to reduce their risk of vehicle theft, including storing car keys out of view, away from external doors and windows.
People should keep their car keys with them at all times, even when out without their car, and never leave them unattended in a bag or locker.
Car keys should be tagged with a mobile phone number, rather than a name or address.
Never leave spare house or care keys in their cars.
Police also urged people to install good quality locks on doors and windows, to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of burglary.
People should also lock all windows and doors, even when at home and install an alarm system or CCTV.
Police asked people to report suspicious behaviour to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
They urged anyone who needed immediate assistance to call triple zero (000).
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