3 hours agoTue 30 Dec 2025 at 3:40am

The window the man allegedly smashed to enter the victim's Glengarry home. (Supplied: Melissa Frances)

In short: 

Police are searching Latrobe Valley bushland in eastern Victoria for a man they allege stole multiple cars and broke into a house with an axe.

Local officers, the air-wing unit and the dog squad are combing land in the Moondarra region.

Police are urging locals to secure their homes and vehicles while the search continues.

Police are searching bushland near Moondarra, 150 kilometres east of Melbourne, for a man who allegedly carjacked two vehicles, rammed a police car and broke into a home with an axe during a two-day crime spree across the Latrobe Valley.

Victoria Police alleged the man fled into the bushland next to Moe-Rawson Road about 5am on Tuesday after ditching a stolen car on the side of the road.

Local police officers, the air-wing unit and the dog squad have been working together to comb the area since the early hours of the morning.

Investigators believe the spree began on Saturday morning when the man allegedly approached a woman on Firmins Lane in Hazelwood South at about 11am and demanded her car keys before driving away in her vehicle.

Part of the bushland Victoria Police is surveying in Moondarra. (ABC News: Jack Franco Colantuono)

Police said they spotted the stolen car at a service station on the Princes Highway in Traralgon East about 4:15am on Tuesday.

As officers attempted to box the car in, the man allegedly rammed a police vehicle and escaped.

'No imminent risk'

Police believe the man abandoned the car at Castleknock Drive in Glengary at about 5am before forcing entry into a nearby home with an axe.

The operation involves several crews, including the Victoria Police air-wing unit, the dog squad and local police officers. (ABC News)

After breaking into that home, police allege the man stole the resident's black hatchback.