Hallam home invasion: Police investigating after a teenage boy was stabbed

A teenage boy is recovering in hospital after he was stabbed in a violent home invasion in Melbourne’s southeast.

Unknown offenders broke into the Arcadia Ave home while at least seven boys aged between 12 and 16 were there.

A 16-year-old boy has spent the night in hospital after he was stabbed in the leg and back during a violent home invasion in Melbourne’s southeast.

Unknown offenders broke into an Arcadia Ave residence in Hallam armed with poles and a machete, before confronting the young resident about 10.45pm on Monday.

Emergency services were called shortly after and the teen was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.

Victoria Police said six other boys were at the property at the time of the incident, including two 16-year-olds, two 15-year-olds, a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old.

Casey Criminal Investigation Unit detective are investigating the incident after the offenders fled the home.

“At this stage of the investigation, the incident appears to be targeted,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said in a statement.

A witness who contacted police said they saw a group of four or five teens fleeing the scene in a small silver sedan.

“I heard a lot of yelling and screaming,” the person said.

They said they saw one teen armed with a pole and knew something terrible had happened when the ambulance arrived.

The person said a car at the house had all it’s windows smashed in “an attack” earlier in the year.

A nearby resident said it wasn’t uncommon to see police at the property.

“Seems like they are at least every couple of months,” they said.

“I was woken up by the police last night, there were police cars and ambulances all out here.”

The resident said there was often groups of teens at the house.

“You see six, seven or eight of them going in and out,” they said.

They said another house on the street had caught a group of teens stealing sneakers from their front door.

The resident said they avoided interacting with any of the local kids.

“You just don’t know these days. You could wake up and they could be surrounding your bed with knives.”

A family friend of the victim’said that security cameras at the house weren’t working after police removed the hard drive and hadn’t returned it following a break in 6 weeks ago.

A marked police car arrived just after 12.30pm with a detective seen entering the house next door to talk to a neighbour before leaving again shortly after.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.