Cops hunt thugs after crime spree through southeast Melbourne

A WOMAN has recounted the terrifying moment carjackers threatened her with a machete during last night’s horror 10-hour crime spree across six suburbs in Melbourne’s southeast. She was just one of up to nine victims who were terrorised in the Halloween rampage.

A WOMAN has recounted the terrifying moment carjackers threatened her with a machete during last night’s horror 10-hour crime spree across six suburbs in Melbourne’s southeast.

The victim, who does not wish to be identified, arrived at her Colac Court, Patterson Lakes home about 3am after work.

Sitting in her car in the driveway, she was confronted by up to five males brandishing the weapon.

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“They came up behind me, covered my mouth, pushed me into the seat and pointed a 40cm machete at me and warned me not to scream and give up my keys,” she told.

“I did. Three of them jumped in my car and drove off and the other two ran possibly to another car.”

The victim ran inside and raised the alarm.

“I’m traumatised, exhausted and still in shock,” she said.

Police are hunting a group of thugs thought to be behind a series of crimes in southeast Melbourne overnight. Stock image

Det Sen Con Singh said the woman had been “mentally scarred” by the ordeal.

“She is definitely traumatised and was not able to sleep last night. She’s clearly very scared,” he said.

It was just one of the horrific incidents as a gang of up to six machete-wielding thugs terrorised Melbourne’s southeast overnight, punching, robbing and in one case, bizarrely egging a soon-to-be robbery victim.

The Halloween crime spree occurred in the suburbs of Hampton Park, South Yarra, Caulfield, St Kilda, Cheltenham and Patterson Lakes.

Detectives are confident the same group is responsible.

Detective Senior Constable Lal Devinder Singh said the gang targeted up to nine “vulnerable” victims who were unable to defend themselves.

“These people were taken by surprise,” he said. “It’s bizarre offending.

“You don’t expect to be assaulted when you’re out for a walk or driving home from work.

“They haven’t got any regard for the safety of other members of the community.”

They are thought to be caucasian and African in appearance, and aged between about 16 and 20.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Cox told 3AW one man was also described as Middle Eastern in appearance, and the attacks appeared to be random.

He added the same white Volkswagen, registration 1FY4HF, stolen in Cranbourne East two days earlier, was also seen at a number of the incidents.

The crime spree began in Hampton Park at 5.30pm yesterday, when three men walking along Coral Drive were egged by people in a Volkswagen sedan.

An argument then broke out and one of the victims was punched in the head in nearby Pauline Court.

Two men and two women drove off after stealing a phone and speaker from one of the men.

Police believe the gang struck again, about 40km northwest, in Osborne St, South Yarra about 12.30am.

Two men were approached by occupants from the grey sedan, who then began to punch and kick one of the victims before stealing his mobile phone, keys and wallet.

A group of victims was bizarrely egged before they were robbed.

The 41-year-old Hawthorn man suffered bruising and cuts to his head and body, which required treatment in hospital.

Thirty minutes later, 4km south, at 1am, at the intersection of Blessington and Carlisle streets, St Kilda, a 45-year-old man was set upon by three men from the Volkswagen sedan. They kicked and punched him while he was on the ground.

The St Kilda man sustained swelling and bruising to his head and torso.

The assailants fled in the car, heading west on Carlisle St with the victim’s bag, which also contained his mobile phone.

Just after 1.30am, the gang struck again at a Patterson Lakes McDonald’s at the intersection of Jamieson St and Nepean Highway, another 13km southeast.

Investigators have been told a group of men arrived in the VW sedan and one of the men entered the store wearing a mask and gloves.

The thug confronted staff and demanded cash before fleeing empty-handed in the vehicle.

“The manager refused to hand over the money and he defended himself with a broom and the offender in that particular incident, he wasn’t armed that we know of,” Snr Sgt Cox said.

“He exited the store post haste and got into that vehicle that we’re looking for.”

A woman was carjacked and her Volkswagen Jetta car, similar to the one pictured above, was stolen. File image

At 3.25am, a woman arrived at her home in Colac Court, Patterson Lakes, another 20km further south.

Police say four or five offenders, one armed with a machete, threatened her before stealing her grey 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, with the registration 1BR4MW.

Two more offenders fled in a white VW sedan and the victim was not injured.

Another incident occurred in Carlisle St, Caulfield, at 3.30am. On that occasion, a woman was approached on the street by three men in a light-coloured sedan.

The men stole the 24-year-old Caulfield North woman’s phone and fled in the sedan west on Balaclava Rd.

“We can’t condone the behaviour of these people going out and stepping things up so it’s important that we apprehend them as soon as possible,” Snr Sgt Cox said.

Police are yet to recover the stolen cars or items and expect to release CCTV footage of the offenders shortly.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.

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