New images of home invasion suspects released
A teen has been arrested over a series of violent incidents while two other suspects whose images were realeased after a court delay still remain at large.
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Police last night were finally able to release photos of two teens wanted over a series of violent incidents, 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.
But police did not release images of two other minors until just before 9pm, because they were forced to wait for Children’s Court approval while the 17-year-olds remained at large.
The pair, who were still at large late last night, are known to frequent the city’s northwest and south, and were believed to be driving a stolen black Honda HRV station wagon with registration 1EY3DI, police said.
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 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 gang 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 offenders had allegedly threatened to kill a Derrimut family with knives before stealing two cars.
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.