Reoffenders ‘resilient’ as police tackle western suburbs crime
A “CORE group” of offenders is being arrested repeatedly in Melbourne’s western suburbs as police tackle crime in the area, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton says. It comes as a machete-wielding gang assaulted a woman in a horrifying home invasion.
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A GROUP of “resilient” reoffenders is being arrested repeatedly in the western suburbs as police tackle crime in the area.
Victoria Police’s chief commissioner Graham Ashton said they had been trying to get on top of the issues in the Tarneit area and surrounding suburbs.
“We are continuing to arrest the same people same again. That core group are reoffending. They are pretty resilient and like to reoffend,” he told 3AW this morning.
“We need to get hold of the young bucks who have done this latest one and get them in custody. These offenders are African-Australian.”
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Mr Ashton was speaking following a disturbing aggravated burglary in Tarneit last Friday where a woman was bashed after a machete-wielding gang attacked her in her home.
The 34-year-old woman parked in her garage on August 17 and was followed inside by four young men of African appearance, who ransacked the house.
“One of the youths produced a machete and punched the woman to the face before making demands for her vehicle,” Senior Constable Seach said.
A male sped off in the car while the other three offenders fled on foot, police said.
“These are the sort of offences we are trying to crack down on, it is just dreadful,” he said.
He said police had two long-term operations which had made more than 700 arrests in Tarneit and the surrounding areas in the past 14 months.
“We are seeing the same offenders reoffending,” he said.
“We need to get hold of the young bucks who have done this latest one and get them in custody. These offenders are African Australian.
“We are continuing to arrest the same people same again. That core group are reoffending. They are pretty resilient and like to reoffend.”
Mr Ashton said there had been no arrests made since a riot in Taylors Hill earlier this month.
The female victim of the latest Tarneit aggravated burglary suffered facial injuries and was treated at the scene.
Her car, a black Hyundai Elantra sedan has still not been found. The car has the registration ART 775.
Anyone with information or who sees the car is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000