Ten people have been arrested during a multi-night police operation targeting alleged car thieves and reckless drivers.
Local police were joined by the Dog Squad and Air Wing as officers swarmed Ballarat, Victoria, from July 15-18 during Operation Talon.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Alleged car thieves swarmed by police sting
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow
Footage from the operation shows an alleged offender abandoning his car and running through backyards in a desperate attempt to escape police.
Police allege he was one of two men to run from the car after first being spotted driving erratically in Sebastopol, south Balarat, about 11.20pm on July 18.
The Air Wing helped tracked the car and its occupants before arresting the man in the backyard of a home.
The duo, a 22-year-old from Sebastapol and an 18-year-old from Ballarat North, were then charged with a string of alleged car theft and traffic offences.
Just an hour prior, officers allegedly spotted a black Ford Falcon with no registration plates perform a burnout at the intersection of Learmonth and Latrobe St.
A pursuit was launched and the Ford allegedly reached speeds of 120kmh before two occupants left the car and hid outside a nearby home.
Officers arrived soon after and arrested the alleged driver, a 20-year-old man from Mt Wallace, and passenger, a 21-year-old from Mt Egerton.
The younger man was charged with one count each of dangerous driving while being pursued by police, driving vehicle in a manner dangerous, careless driving, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and failing to stop on police direction.
The older was charged with allegedly possessing cocaine and resisting arrest.
Alleged car thieves and reckless drivers swooped on by police during multi-night sting across Ballarat. Credit: Victoria Police/Victoria Police Shortly before, officers were patrolling along Learmonth Street in Alfredton when they observed a black Ford Falcon with no registrations plates allegedly perform a burnout at the intersection of Latrobe Street about 10.25pm.
Police attempted to intercept the driver however they allegedly failed to stop and took off, reaching speeds of 120kmh.
The Air Wing followed the car from above and guided officers on the ground to Winter Valley where two occupants allegedly got out of the vehicle and hid outside a nearby house.
The alleged driver, a 20-year-old Mt Wallace man, was arrested and later charged with dangerous driving while being pursued by police, driving vehicle in a manner dangerous, careless driving, driving unregistered motor vehicle and failing to stop on police direction.
His passenger, aged 21 from Mt Egerton, was arrested and charged with possessing cocaine and resisting arrest.
A further six people were arrested during the operation, with 11 allegedly stolen vehicles also being seized.