FOUR wanted people have been arrested after fleeing a stolen car in Albury, with a school placed in lockdown as police chased after the group.
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About 20 officers from both sides of the Border rushed to the Albury Showgrounds on Thursday afternoon.
A white Holden Commodore had been stolen from Albury earlier that morning and was later seen in Wagga with seven people on board.
Four people were arrested and a fifth was on the run.
Nearby schools Xavier and St Annes wer place on lockdown as a precaution.
Detective Inspector Darren Cloake told The Daily Advertiser the driving before the arrest was of great concern to police.
“We were told that during the course of their driving they were attempting to run people off the road,” he said.
“Certainly this is of concern to us as it’s a high-risk activity that the offenders are engaging in.”
Police from Albury, Wodonga and Wagga have been running a major operation targeting a high number of offences that have occurred in the three cities.
The offending has involved ram raids, a large number of car thefts and thefts from vehicles, arson, break-ins while people have been at home and more.
The offenders have been travelling between Wagga and the Border in the stolen vehicles.
Cars have been torched in Albury, Springdale Heights and the Ettamogah Rise, with police investigating possible links between the incidents.
Detective Inspector Cloake said more arrests were expected as part of Operation Kingsmen.
Police have made steady arrests in recent weeks.
“In terms of the investigation, it’s continuing,” Detective Inspector Cloake said.
“Certainly we are aware that there are further people involved.”
Charges listed for one man in Albury Local Court on Thursday included car theft, reckless or furious driving, predatory driving, drug driving and reckless driving during a police pursuit.
Another woman has been charged with being carried in a stolen car, with other alleged offenders on a string of similar charges.
People camping at the showground said several police cars had quickly descended on the area.
Officers scoured the showgrounds after making the arrests and spoke to witnesses.