'Bear' joins Vic police force with a growl A new high-tech armoured rescue vehicle has been added to Victoria's crime-fighting artillery. A NEW high-tech armoured rescue vehicle has been added to Victoria's crime-fighting artillery, helping police tackle terrorism and get a grip on dangerous scenarios. The $400,000 "BearCat" vehicle, imported from the United States, will be used for sieges, armed stand-offs and in dealing with dangerous criminals. "It is bullet resistant, blast resistant and it means Victorian police have up-to-date modern vehicles to use in a dangerous and hostile situation," Police Minister Kim Wells said on Thursday as he grabbed the keys for the armoured beast. Federal Emergency Management Minister Mark Dreyfus said the vehicle could also be used for counter-terrorism and rescue operations. Police are thrilled with the new tool in their arsenal. Deputy Police Commissioner Tim Cartwright said the BearCat is carefully designed to protect police against armed offenders. " (When) our guys are in this, they are protected from armed offenders and they get a greater opportunity to rescue people who are in need," he said. The first BearCat vehicles were supplied to the ACT, the Northern Territory and South Australia mid-2011, as part of a national counter-terrorism committee project and will be provided to every state and territory.