January 31st, 2023Water Police arrest man in stolen boat at Point Lonsdale

A 38-year-old Mickleham man was arrested by Water Police officers after the intercept of a stolen boat at Point Lonsdale earlier this month.

The man was operating the boat in The Heads when he was intercepted by members of the Water Police South Port Phillip Bay strike team at 10am on Friday, january 20, police reported earlier.

The man was escorted back to shore by a second police vessel and was arrested at Queenscliff Marina a short time later.

The boat which was reported stolen from an address in Mickleham on 12 January was recovered along with the boat trailer and has since been returned to the owner.

Enquires by police have identified the man for a separate theft of boat and trailer from an address in Sunbury on the 10 January, which have also been recovered.

The man has been charged with two counts of theft of boat, theft of trailer, handle stolen goods, going equipped to steal and operating a vessel without a marine licence.

He had been remanded in custody to appear at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday 23 January.

Acting Sergeant Michael Greenwood: “Water Police will remain out in force this summer with strike teams deployed across the bay and in regional locations ensuring safety and compliance with zero tolerance for dangerous and anti-social behaviour”.