Melbourne’s Apex gang luring youngsters with promises of up to $4000-a-night, court hears
THE notorious Apex gang is luring youngsters to commit terrifying home invasions and car thefts in the promise of making quick cash, police say.
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THE notorious Apex gang is luring youngsters to commit terrifying home invasions and car thefts in the promise of making quick cash, police say.
A detective fighting the bail of a 17-year-old gang member and alleged Moomba rioter accused of terrorising two households with weapons, said teens were committing violent crimes in the hope of making up to $4000-a-night.
The court heard the Sudanese church leader turned “main player” in the gang and was stealing luxury cars to sell around Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.
“He’s bragging to all his associates that he’s committing crime and making money from it.
“The evidence shows, unfortunately, that he’s highly entrenched with a gang of young offenders because he can make easy money from it,” the detective said.
Police sources said brazen aggravated burglaries and car thefts, the hallmark of Apex-related crime-sprees, are inciting other teens to commit similar copycat crimes.
The source said the youths called the practice “missioning”, where they would drive around committing multiple burglaries a night.
“They all want to be gangsters,” the officer said.
Police claim Apex members were involved in the Moomba riots in Melbourne’s CBD on March 12.
The 17-year-old before court today was one of dozens of teens charged over the terrifying scenes.
He is also charged with car theft, aggravated burglary and assault, among other offences, following two home invasions in affluent suburbs on April 23.
It’s alleged a group of males armed with poles and sticks used rocks to smash their way into a Brighton home at 3.10am, attacking one of the occupants before fleeing.
The detective said the occupants were “petrified, and looking to sell their home” after the attack.
At 6.40am the group stormed an Ormond home where several Chinese students were asleep, demanding phones, police say.
The court heard the males were threatening their terrified victims with hammers, laughing and filming the attack on an iPhone, and wanting to know if there were women in the house.
The detective claimed the group stole a BMW sedan and Honda parked at the address.
The teen was arrested later that day after allegedly being seen at the wheel of the stolen Honda.
The magistrate heard the boy didn’t identify himself as an Apex member, but the detective said no one ever admitted to police they were part of the gang.
A youth justice worker said she supported bail, describing the teen as a boxer and diligent school student.
The magistrate refused bail, saying that boy risked reoffending was a danger to the community.