Tarneit home invasion: Girl, 8, and boy, 11, scare off Christmas Eve armed burglars

Arming themselves with a kitchen knife and rolling pin, two young children came to mum’s rescue during a horror Tarneit home invasion.

Two children were allegedly forced to arm themselves to protect their mother and older sister during a violent Christmas Eve home invasion.

The prosecution told the court police will allege the frightened children, an 11-year-old boy and his eight-year-old sister, grabbed a knife and rolling pin from the family kitchen after waking up to the sounds of their mum and older sister allegedly being beaten by two males.

It’s alleged the older sister confronted the pair, begging them to leave, after they threatened her mother at 5am, but was pushed to the floor and had her face “stomped on”, the court heard.

Police say the alleged offenders fled the scene in a car.

It comes during a spree of three alleged home invasions in Melbourne’s west between 1.50am and 5.50am on December 24, where the accused, allegedly armed with a machete, umbrella and a wrench, stole electronics, cash and a car.

The court heard Senior Constable Hayden Chalmers described the alleged home invasions as the “worst” he’d seen in his career.

“I have spent most of this week speaking to the victims. All are completely traumatised by this offending,” he said.

“They’re absolutely terrified. One child now tries to sleep with a knife because they’re scared.”

Police later arrested a man and two youths after an allegedly high-speed chase ended when an allegedly stolen car crashed into a power pole on Hogans Rd around 6.20am.

One of the accused, Andrew Kaleedre, an 18-year-old roof tiler from Hoppers Crossing, faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for a bail application after spending five days in police custody.

Mr Kaleedre has been charged with one count of aggravated home invasion and theft of a motor vehicle.

Sen-Constable Chalmers told the court further charges in relation to the alleged offences were “expected” but police were waiting on forensic evidence.

The court heard Mr Kaleedre allegedly told investigators his memory of the night was “hazy”, having consumed alcohol, cannabis and Xanax that day.

He was described as a “friendly conversationalist” by police, while his father, Lance Rudolf, said he was a “sensible boy”.

“He had some issues when he was younger but I thought he was past his problems, he’s a good boy,” he told the court.

Mr Kaleedre cried over the phone from remand as Magistrate Graeme Keil denied bail, saying the hurdle of exceptional circumstances had not been met.

“I’m not here to condemn you,” he said.

“I’m very impressed with how you’ve been described by the police and your parents.

“Despite all of that, I want the best for this young man but bail will be refused.”

Both of Mr Kaleedre’s co-accused — a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old — have previously faced a Children’s Court and been denied bail.