Six Arrested After Brighton East Burglary Leads to Major Melbourne Freeway Police Operation

Six people have been arrested after an aggravated burglary in Melbourne’s south-east triggered a major police operation on the Monash Freeway.

Police intercepted an allegedly stolen four-wheel drive near Chadstone on Tuesday, bringing outbound traffic to a standstill while tactical officers detained the occupants.

Burglary Reported Early in the Morning

The incident began shortly after 5:30am when police were called to a home in Brighton East following reports of an aggravated burglary.

A couple were at home with their infant when they were woken by loud banging. The residents initially believed the noise could have been caused by something inside the property.

After a second bang, they realised someone appeared to have entered the home through a side door. A neighbour also contacted the couple to warn them about intruders.

Two Vehicles Allegedly Stolen

Police said two vehicles were stolen from the property during the alleged burglary.

One of the vehicles was a Nissan four-wheel drive. The second was an Audi.

The Brighton East residents were left shaken by the incident and said they planned to strengthen security around their home following the break-in.

Nissan Tracked Towards Chadstone

The stolen Nissan was later spotted travelling on Melbourne’s EastLink toll road.

Police said the vehicle was being driven erratically as officers worked to track its movements.

The operation eventually moved towards Chadstone, where police intercepted the Nissan shortly after midday.

More than a dozen officers, including members wearing tactical equipment, were involved in the arrest operation.

Monash Freeway Brought to a Standstill

The interception caused major disruption on the Monash Freeway as outbound lanes were closed while police secured the scene.

Images from the scene showed several police vehicles positioned around the grey Nissan as officers detained the people inside.

Traffic quickly backed up along the freeway, creating significant delays for motorists travelling through Melbourne’s south-east.

Police later reopened all lanes shortly after 1pm, once the operation had been completed.

Six People Arrested as Investigation Continues

Police arrested six people who were inside the Nissan. They were taken into custody and were being interviewed by investigators.

No one was injured during the police operation.

The second allegedly stolen vehicle, an Audi, was recovered in Endeavour Hills after it was involved in a collision earlier in the day.

Investigators were also seen collecting items from the Nissan and placing them into evidence bags as they continued examining the circumstances surrounding the burglary and vehicle thefts.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations have not been tested in court.

Source: ABC News, October 6, 2026.