Home invasion suspects arrested
Police have arrested six people after a string of violent home invasions and carjackings across Melbourne, as more home owners in the region have been hit by other allegedly violent offenders.
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A run of armed robberies continued overnight in Geelong after two people allegedly broke into a Waurn Ponds home and demanded keys to a white Mercedes.
One alleged offender assaulted a 29-year-old man in the home before they fled with a mobile phone, ipad and two watches in the stolen car.
About 20 minutes later, police spied the stolen Mercedes on Barrabool Rd, it sped away but then crashed in Belmont.
Three teenage females, including a 15-year-old, were arrested less than half an hour after the alleged theft when they were seen fleeing from the smashed car.
Two 17-year-old males were arrested later this morning.
Police believe they have caught everyone involved in the midnight attack.
It comes after a string of violent incidents, including carjackings and home invasions, by others since the weekend.
Police have now arrested six people over a string of violent robberies and carjackings during the three-day alleged crime spree.
The teens were allegedly part of an armed gang which threatened to kill a family and carjacked a mother during a violent rampage that police feared showed “no sign of slowing”.
Last night, police were able to release photos of the two teens wanted over violent incidents in Melbourne including Derrimut, Port Melbourne, Bentleigh East and Mernda after seeking approval from the Children’s Court.
It came more than 12 hours after the image of another suspect was made public.
An image of Ali Sari, 18, was made public by 8.30am yesterday and he was arrested in Kingsbury about 9.45pm last night, along with a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old Beveridge man.
Police did not release images of two other minors until just before 9pm.
That order was revoked before 8.30am today and shortly before 10am police said they were no longer looking for anyone involved over these incidents.
The teens were allegedly part of an armed gang which threatened to kill a family and carjacked a mother during a violent rampage that police fear shows “no sign of slowing”.
Former victims of crime commissioner Greg Davies said if police have CCTV footage that identified suspects, there should be no impediment to its release.
Mr Davies said those responsible were “committing some of the most serious crimes on the statute” and any delay should be minimal.
Three victims assaulted & a mum threatened w/ a knife in front of her child during a terrifying carjacking/home invasion spree linked to four armed men. Four cars stolen, two homes raided across Melbourne.
— Aneeka Simonis (@AneekaSimonis) May 27, 2019
Police currently at family home targeted in Derrimut @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/7kQ6VrcAkO
“It’s not a picture from Nana’s photo album,” Mr Davies said.
“They are going to continue offending. This is about protecting the community from people behaving in an outrageous and predatory manner.”
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force “works within the parameters of the legislation”.
Commander Stuart Bateson, head of the Australian-African Community Task-force, warned the alleged offenders were a threat to public safety.
“Until we get them into custody, they are absolutely a threat,” he told 3AW.
“They have shown no signs of slowing down … the series of crimes have been horrendous for victims involved.”
The group allegedly ransacked a Bentleigh East home and assaulted a man and woman aged in their 30s about 8.40pm on Sunday.
Police allege the gang stole a BMW that later crashed on the West Gate Freeway.
Later that night, a woman and her child were carjacked at knifepoint in Port Melbourne.
By 12.10am, the same alleged offenders had allegedly threatened to kill a Derrimut family with knives before stealing two cars.
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A woman who was punched in the face during the attack feared she was going to be killed.
Then on Tuesday, at 4am, a 42-year-old man was attacked and a BMW SUV stolen during a home invasion in Mernda.
A woman and two children were home at the time.
Later on Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in relation to the crime spree.
He was remanded to appear at a Children’s Court at a later date.