Arrest for church thefts

Baw Baw CIU detectives arrested a 22-year-old Drouin man last Thursday in relation to a string of thefts from a church in Tarwin St, Warragul over the past month.

A 1997 white Toyota HiAce minibus was stolen from off-street parking at the venue on September 3, at about 2:25am.

Police acquired CCTV footage showing a person loitering around the minibus earlier that evening before returning and driving it from the property, across a paddock and onto the road.

The vehicle, valued at about $2000 was later seen in Contour Rd, Trafalgar on Thursday after police were alerted to several 'suspicious vehicle' calls from community members.
Officers found the driver of the stolen vehicle fixing a wheel on the roadside at 10:40am. The man allegedly fled the scene when approached by police.
The alleged offender was chased into a canal where he was arrested.
Police searched the vehicle and found a large amount of stolen property from various locations.
The man was remanded in custody to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on September 30.