Bad cop charges

A THIEF who allegedly produced a police badge and ‘arrested’ his victim in Dandenong last month has been charged.
On 11 March police arrested a 46-year-old Waterways man over the incident in Hutton Street, Dandenong, on 22 February.
They executed a search warrant at his address and found a PSO badge, handcuffs and weapons.
He was remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 June to answer charges of impersonating a police member, aggravated burglary, unlawful imprisonment, theft, posessing police items, drugs, a prohibited weapon and ammunition, handling stolen goods and committing and indictable offence while on bail.
Greater Dandenong CIU detectives had appealed for help to identify a man who allegedly entered an unlocked home, produced what appeared to be a police identification badge, handcuffed a 25-year-old man and told him he was under arrest for attempted murder.
Police allege the thief asked the victim to open a safe and left when he refused.
The victim took a taxi to Dandenong Police Station where CFA crews cut him free from the handcuffs.