Three teenagers arrested after stabbing of boy and his mother at Unley

A mother was stabbed trying to protect her young son as she drove after three teenagers who allegedly stole $550 from her car at Unley, a court has heard.

Paramedics attend a scene on Sunday where a nine-year-old boy and his mother were stabbed during an alleged violent car robbery outside their Unley home. Picture: 7NEWS

A mother was chasing three teenagers accused of stealing $550 from her car when she was stabbed through an open window, a court has heard.

The woman was injured trying to protect her son, who was in the car with her, as she drove after three people she believed had taken the money from her car early on Sunday, prosecutors said.

A 15-year-old boy from Elizabeth Downs, a 13-year-old boy from Ferryden Park and a 14-year-old boy from Flinders Park have been arrested and charged with illegal interference and theft.

The father of one of the teens lashed out at media outside court after his son’s appearance, spitting at and shoving media.

The two older boys were further charged with breaching their bail.

No one has yet been charged in relation to the stabbing.

The 13-year-old appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody.

The other two boys appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Wednesday where they applied to be released on bail.

The trio were allegedly identified by security footage. The court was told one of the boys said he had a hazy memory of the night because of using drugs and remembered the car, though he denied stabbing the pair.

JUST IN: There have been heated scenes outside court as the father of a teenager accused of stabbing a mother and her son at Unley lashed out at the media. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGgvkq#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/VuxkbySqJ9

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 26, 2022

The court heard the mother had spotted three males, two of whom were described as of African appearance and one of caucasian, near the car at the front of their house.

A prosecutor told the court the woman emerged from the house to find the front door of the car open and $550, which had been in one of the compartments, gone.

Her son emerged from the house with her and did not want to be left alone, so the pair got in the car in pursuit of the trio.

The court heard the mum pulled up next to the trio and demanded her money.

One of the males approached the window and waved a 10cm knife through it.

The woman shielded her son and sped off. She suffered two puncture wounds to her arm while her son was cut on his left hand, the court heard.

The court heard that one of the boy’s home detention monitors had run out of battery, while the other had allegedly cut off his monitor.

The Youth Court magistrate ordered a home detention report and remanded both boys in custody until next month when they will reappear in court.

Police search for evidence after the boy and his mother were stabbed during the violent car robbery outside their Unley home. Picture: 7NEWS

The boy’s family later criticised SA Health and Premier Peter Malinauskas’ Labor government after the Year 3 student waited hours to be seen by Women’s and Children’s Hospital doctors.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the boy was seen immediately by the triage nurse but there was a number of “significant priority one cases” that were prioritised ahead of treating the boy.

Senior Women’s and Children’s doctors will review why the boy was forced to wait several hours, as the Premier vowed to meet family and the hospital apologised.

Investigations are continuing into the assault. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told reporters a task force has been established to target a group of known car thieves. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

SA Police said the Unley stabbing arrests were not linked to Operation Mandrake, a taskforce focusing on a spate of car-related crime, or other recent break-ins.

“They are targeting a particular group of offenders who we know commit these types of offences, so that’s a main focus area,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.

“We don’t see it as gang related … in some respects these offences are being committed for the purpose of joy-riding.”

A series of home invasions also sparked questioning from reporters, with Mr Stevens saying some homeowners had confronted offenders.

He said homeowners were entitled to protect their property but encouraged the community to think twice before intervening.

“Your own personal safety is absolutely paramount and you shouldn’t put your own wellbeing at risk for the sake of personal items,” he said.