UPDATE: Two individuals have been arrested in a stolen Ford Ranger after a failed attempt to refuel, according to police reports from the Wodonga and Wangaratta area. Authorities confirmed that the vehicle, taken from Albury on October 22, 2023, was spotted driving north the same day.
The situation escalated when the driver and his female passenger arrived at a Shell petrol station in Rutherglen to refuel, only to find the pump deactivated. Following this, they proceeded to a BP petrol station in Barnawartha North, where police apprehended them without incident. The stolen vehicle has since been seized.
Police have charged the pair with multiple offenses, including handling and receiving stolen property and possessing a controlled weapon. The driver is scheduled to face court on February 10, 2024, with his passenger expected to appear on the same day.
This incident is unfolding amidst a backdrop of rising crime in the region. In a separate case, a man has been sentenced to over four years in prison for driving an unconscious woman from Wodonga to Beechworth before assaulting her in the back seat of his vehicle. Additionally, a drink-driver who crashed into a fence and fled the scene, leaving behind his front plate, expressed concerns about how the incident might affect his residency status in the country.
Stay tuned for more updates on these developing stories as authorities continue their investigations. The urgency of these incidents highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in addressing crime in the community.
