Teenager, 13, charged with threatening women with knife in Cranbourne carjacking

A young boy accused of threatening two women with a knife in a Cranbourne car park had only been out on bail for 12 days before he snuck out of home and allegedly terrorised the pair.

A 13-year-old boy was out on bail when he threatened two women with a knife in a terrifying carjacking after sneaking out the back door of his family home, police allege.

The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been out on bail for only 12 days when he allegedly terrorised the women at knifepoint on Monday night.

The two friends, aged 18 and 19, were sitting in a parked car off Thompsons Rd in Cranbourne when they were approached by the teen after midnight.

He struck up a conversation with the young women before he allegedly pulled out a knife and made demands for the car.

The women, who were not injured, managed to escape and raise the alarm.

The teen faced a children’s court on Tuesday afternoon to apply for bail again after he was arrested and charged with aggravated carjacking and assault.

First constable Jess Lomax told the court he jumped into the driver’s seat once the women had fled, but was “unable” to start the car.

In opposing bail, Constable Lomax said the teen had been charged with “very serious offending” in recent months, including armed robbery.

Police claim the teen snuck out of his family home before the alleged incident. Picture: Olena Sakhatska

“I know that ... previously he’s used a knife when the victim has pulled her laptop up to her chest in fear,” she alleged.

“He’s pressed the knife against her chest.”

She added: “The concern is ... given he’s breaking curfew, given he’s still offending, given there’s a huge rise in his level of offending, the next time he could potentially hurt someone or kill someone, especially given he’s using weapons.”

Magistrate Gail Hubble said she could “not be more alarmed” by the alleged offending, having previously granted the teen bail with strict conditions in early February.

“My alarm is up to here,” she said, gesturing above her head.

“I need to know this child is supervised around the clock.”

His defence lawyer argued her client should be granted bail to return to his family home, given his young age and his lack of prior convictions.

“The doors are locked, however he has snuck out on this occasion. He’s let himself out the back door,” she said.

“His mother is making arrangements to change the locks.”

The 13-year-old boy was out on bail for only 12 days before he allegedly offended again. Picture: file image

But Ms Hubble said she remained “gravely concerned” about the risk he posed to the community.

“This crime is an escalation and he’s committed it on his own, which is unusual, and it has left me concerned why a child at this age is out at night on his own committing carjackings,” she said.

“The risk to the community could not be higher.”

She adjourned the bail application for a week in order for Youth Justice to complete an assessment, but said that did not mean he would be bailed in a weeks’ time.

“I recall being completely clear that if (he) committed any crimes of any description his bail would end,” she said.

“I wanted him to understand there would be consequences if he breached the law.”

The teen was remanded in custody, with Ms Hubble telling him to “think about how your life is going” while behind bars.

The court heard CCTV footage and DNA evidence would be crucial to the case.

However, the prosecution will need to rebut the presumption of doli incapax, which presumes children under the age of 14 lack the capacity to be criminally responsible for their acts, for the teen to be convicted.

The bail application will continue on March 6.