Latrobe Valley Crime Spree: Man Charged | Police News

(Trafalgar, Victoria, January 1, 2026) – A 34-year-old man has been charged with 66 offences following a two-day pursuit in teh Latrobe Valley that resulted in a police officer’s injury and damage to multiple police vehicles.

A man is in custody after a crime spree across the Latrobe Valley culminated in a crash and his subsequent arrest, facing charges including carjacking and aggravated burglary.

• A 34-year-old man has been charged with 66 offences.
• The pursuit involved allegedly stolen vehicles and culminated in a crash in Trafalgar.
• A police officer sustained lower-body injuries during the pursuit.
• The suspect was apprehended after crashing into a garden wall.

Police allege the man was driving a stolen red SUV that crashed through a garden wall on Anzac road in Trafalgar on Wednesday morning, leading to his capture.

crime Spree and Pursuit

The charges stem from a series of alleged offences, police said. Detectives had been searching for the man following what they described as a “crime spree” when he crashed in Trafalgar.

Earlier on Wednesday, at approximately 8:20 a.m., police allege the man stole petrol from a service station in Tyers while driving a stolen Mitsubishi. Officers subsequently pursued the Mitsubishi on several occasions throughout Morwell and Trafalgar.

During the pursuit, the Mitsubishi allegedly rammed several police vehicles and collided with a police officer, resulting in lower-body injuries. The injured officer was transported to a hospital and has as been released, according to police.

Did you know? – Aggravated burglary carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment in Victoria, reflecting the seriousness of entering a premises with intent to commit a crime while armed or endangering others.

Arrest and Charges

Following the crash in Trafalgar, the 34-year-old was taken to a hospital for assessment and released on Thursday.He was then formally charged and remains in custody.

The man now faces 66 charges, including carjacking, aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, armed robbery, thefts of five motor vehicles, burglary, reckless conduct endangering life, and attempted aggravated burglary.

He is scheduled to appear at the latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on January 2.

Pro tip – If you witness a crime in progress, do not intervene. Rather, safely observe and record details like vehicle descriptions and suspect appearance, then immediately contact the police.

Police are appealing to the public for information. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage of a man driving a Mitsubishi Outlander along the Princes Highway on Wednesday at approximately 8:30 a.m. is urged to come forward.

Reader question – What factors might contribute to a prolonged pursuit like this one, and how can police balance the need for apprehension with public safety?

Time.news based this report in part on reporting by ABC news and added independent analysis and context.