Dandenong Plaza and Parkmore Shopping Centre thugs on the run
Two terrified teenagers violently assaulted at popular shopping centres in Dandenong and Keysborough, and a man coward-punched outside a Mornington tapas bar, are just part of a busy police week in the southeast.
South East
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MORNINGTON
A man was allegedly coward punched after a brawl broke out near a tapas bar in Mornington.
The incident, which occurred about 10.15pm on Saturday November 16, left the victim in hospital.
A woman who was at the Assaggini Wine & Tapas Bar on Albert Street, near the corner of Main Street, said she called triple-0 when she realised someone had been hurt.
“I called the ambulance but I didn’t see what happened,” the woman said.
“Spectators at the bar said someone was king hit. He stood up and he talked a bit … they were both drunk and the dude who hit him ran away.”
Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said police responded to reports of a group of people fighting on Main Street in Mornington.
Ms Batty said a man was taken to hospital for observation.
She said police have spoken to a number of witnesses and the exact cause of the altercation has not yet been determined.
The man did not make a statement to police.
The Mornington Peninsula hosted the VineHop Festival on the weekend, with hundreds flocking to the area.
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KEYSBOROUGH
A teenager was bashed by two men who stole his mobile phone just after he got off a bus near Parkmore Shopping centre.
The 17-year-old boy was confronted by the men on Chandler Rd about 11.20pm on Friday November 15.
Police said the men, described as caucasian, assaulted the teen, leaving him with marks on his body and they are appealing for any witnesses to the attack to come forward.
DANDENONG
A teenager was attacked by a group of men as he left Dandenong Plaza about 8.55pm on November 16.
The 15-year-old walked out of the precinct to the McRae St side when a man from the group of men and women approached him, demanding his phone and cash.
When he wouldn’t give it up, he was assaulted by several men, described as of African appearance, who then stole his phone.
The teenager managed to get away from the group and called triple-0.
Police are asking witnesses to the attack to come forward.
MORNINGTON
A man was rescued after a boat capsized near Mornington on Sunday November 17.
Police responded to reports of the boat in trouble about 6:25am and were told “the boat went down” around 500m north east of the Mornington pier.
A man was found 300m offshore and was rescued by a local boat operator.
He wasn’t injured and was taken to hospital for observation.
NOBLE PARK
A police patrol got heated last week when a stolen vehicle was set alight in Noble Park.
Officers on a routine patrol on November 18 heard a car horn go off at the end of Alamein St near the train line and found a vehicle alight.
The blue Mazda Tribute had been stolen from a home on October 19.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the fire, or anyone who might have information about the theft to come forward.
DANDENONG
Business owners in the Greater Dandenong area are being warned to be extra vigilant as thieves use stolen credit cards to buy expensive equipment.
The cards are being used to buy items such as air conditioners and hot water systems from plumbing and bathroom stores.
There have already been multiple stores stung by the scam which police believe started about November 11.
CRANBOURNE
A Cranbourne man has been charged with several drug offences and possessing an imitation firearm after police raided a house in Butterwick Terrace, Cranbourne East, on November 13. The 26-year-old will face Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on December 2. A 22-year-old Cranbourne East woman was arrested and released pending a summons.
ELWOOD
A man died when the car he was a passenger in lost control and crashed into a tree in Elwood on November 21.
Police believe three men were travelling in a sedan along Broadway when the driver lost control about 4:15pm.
One of the passengers suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital where he later died.
The other passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while the driver remains under police guard at hospital.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating and are keen to speak to any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage.
MOORABBIN
Police are investigating a burglary from a dental surgery in Moorabbin earlier this month.
Kingston Crime Investigation Unit detectives have been a man broke into the Nepean Highway practice and stole a wallet on Monday November 11 between 12.30pm and 6.30pm.
The next morning the offender tried to use a credit card from the stolen wallet at a petrol station in Highett about 12.30am.
The man was perceived to be caucasian in appearance, of slim build and aged in his early 20s.
He was wearing a grey zip vest, white pants and a grey bicycle helmet.
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MENTONE
Fire crews battled a blaze that took hold of a unit in Mentone on Sunday night.
The MFB believes the fire started outside the building on Flinders St and spread into a garage between two of the units.
Occupants of the unit were evacuated after raising the alarm and contacting triple-0.
MFB and CFA crews brought the blaze under control in 10 minutes before checking for structural damage.