POLICE say a burglar made a false report that someone was trapped in floodwater to avoid capture.
The Kerang man, 24, called 000 on November 7 to report that someone was stranded in floodwater at Kerang East.
The police air wing, SES rescuers and general duties units were deployed urgently.
This ended up being a false report.
“The male made the report to tie up resources as he wanted to avoid police,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Later that day, the man went to the Cohuna police station, where he placed several items on the counter saying he was returning them.
Police recognised that the items were from a burglary in Kerang the previous day.
The man ran out the door hotly pursued by the officer-in-charge, an “agile, fleet-footed” sergeant.
The man ran into the town centre pursued on foot and by police car.
He was arrested in Apex Park and charged with numerous offences, including making a false report and burglary.
He was remanded in custody.
