Botched Altona home invasion ends in collision with police car

A young family huddled in a bedroom as a home invader tried to make off with their car during a botched Altona burglary.

A man’s alleged attempt to steal a car from a family home in the city’s west has gone horribly wrong, ending with a police car collision, a gas main burst and a shower of capcisum spray before he made it out of the driveway.

Police say a 34-year-old Reservoir man entered a McBain St home in Altona about 2:30am on Friday morning, finding the keys to a Mazda SUV before attempting to flee the scene.

But Altona police officers were already searching the area after responding to reports of a man acting suspiciously and spotted the car reversing from the home.

Officers moved to intercept the SUV, setting upon the offender with capsicum spray after he crashed into the police van, two other parked cars and a fence in a panicked attempt to escape the scene.

He also drove over a gas main in the front yard, causing 11 neighbours from three other homes in the street to evacuate.

The man crashed into the police van, two other parked cars and a fence in a panicked attempt to escape the scene. Picture: Owen Leonard

The damaged police car. Picture: Owen Leonard

The Reservoir man has been charged with 29 offences, including aggravated burglary, exposing an emergency services worker to harm, burglary, criminal damage and bail offences.

He has been remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 30.

The father of the family-of-four said he gathered his two young children to hide with his wife in the master bedroom after hearing the invader in the home.

“We got woken up and It all sort of happened really fast and quick,” 30-year-old Alex Rosso said.

“My wife woke me up about 2:30, she heard a noise and called out.

“I said to call the police, because it sounded like it was coming from the main part of the house

“We basically locked ourselves in the master bedroom and went to the balcony.

“My wife was holding the nine-month-old, I had the three-year-old. He was a bit scared, obviously.

“Worst case scenario, I was going to yell out for help if we needed.”

Father-of-four Alex Rosso says his family are still shaken from the early-morning home invasion. Picture: Owen Leonard

Mr Rosso watched the drama unfold from his bedroom window while the man, attempting to steal the car, collided with police.

“The bloke, whoever it was, he got our keys from the front and jumped into the family car,” Mr Rosso said.

“He tried to get away and did a lot of damage.

“You’re anxious, uncomfortable, don’t know what to do or what to expect.

“We’re just all really shook up.”

Police arrived at the scene within a minute and were swift to arrest the invader, Mr Rosso added.

“(Police) got a tip off that (he) was around the neighbourhood going through people’s backyards.

“Luckily the police came so first, they did a great job.

“By the time we called triple-0, in not even minute they were here.”

A neighbour said she woke to police repeatedly exclaiming “get out of the car”.

The SUV has been left with smashed windows, while the damaged police car left the scene later on Friday morning.

The Rosso family’s gas and water supply remain shut off due to the damage inflicted on pipes in the front yard.

Neighbours say the man was last night heard rummaging through backyards and bins, leaving a trail of rubbish in surrounding streets on Friday morning.

Investigators found a collection of spray-paint cans and some personal items, including a credit card, around the corner from the scene on Sargood St.