Police allege two men arrived at Vibert Reserve, off Morrish Rd in south Shepparton, on October 9 at around 10.45am, in a stolen Rodeo utility.
One of the occupants allegedly stole a Mazda sedan that was parked at the reserve, before both vehicles left the scene.
Police tried to intercept the Rodeo in north Shepparton at around 3pm the same day, but it failed to stop.
It was later stopped by heavy traffic on Numurkah Rd, where police pulled up beside it.
The Rodeo then took off, allegedly ramming an unmarked police car, which needed to be towed due to the damage it sustained.
Police located the Mazda in a shared driveway of a block of south Shepparton units later the same evening.
They recovered the vehicle and found two firearms inside it.
Police believe the men responsible for the Rodeo and Mazda thefts, and firearms possession, are connected to three burglaries at a Shepparton towing company between October 10 and 11, where multiple keys and two vehicles were stolen.
Police unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the stolen Rodeo several more times over the same period of time.
The two vehicles stolen from the towing business have since been located.
On Monday, October 13, police spotted the Rodeo parked in Archer St’s TAFE car park, which runs off Wilmot Rd in south Shepparton, at around 10.30am, with two men inside.
Police said the Rodeo drove forward on to the footpath erratically before colliding with four parked vehicles in the car park to avoid them.
The men then allegedly drove the Rodeo to a vacant house in Yorkshire Cres before fleeing.
The police airwing was in Shepparton at the time and joined the search for the men.
Soon after, a 27-year-old Shepparton man was arrested in Essex Crt, before police found and arrested the alleged driver of the stolen utility, a 24-year-old Shepparton man, in a nearby house.
While at the house, police found two more firearms and arrested three more men for various offences and an outstanding warrant.
The 24-year-old Shepparton man is facing 24 charges, including multiple counts of theft of motor vehicle and possession of firearms, bail offences and serious traffic offences, including drive in a manner dangerous and fail to stop on police direction.
He appeared at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on October 14 and was remanded in custody to reappear at the court in December.
The 27-year-old Shepparton man was charged with theft of motor vehicle, possess drug of dependence and possess controlled weapon.
Five outstanding warrants were also executed for the man for failing to appear at court on bail.
He was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in February next year.
A 29-year-old Shepparton man was charged with failing to appear at court on bail.
He appeared at Shepparton Magistrates’ court on October 14, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in December.
A 54-year-old Shepparton man was charged with possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms and two charges of possessing a category A or B firearm.
He was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in February next year.
A 26-year-old Croydon man was charged with 15 car theft offences and multiple firearm offences while subject to a Firearm Prohibition Order.
He was remanded in custody and will reappear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in November.
