Four teens arrested and charged after machete, knife incident on Church St, Brighton

Four teenagers have been arrested after they allegedly brandished machetes and threatened a rival group on the streets of Brighton.

Four teenagers have been arrested after they allegedly threatened a rival group on the streets of Brighton.

Police allege the crew jumped out of a stolen Mitsubishi ASX on Church St about 8.05pm on October 1.

CCTV footage captured at least two of the teenagers allegedly brandishing machetes before they confronted the group of nine, who were crossing the street near the railway tracks.

They fled the area and were not injured.

The teens returned to their vehicle and drove off before allegedly committing an armed robbery in McKinnon.

Teens seen on the video clashing with another group on Church St, Brighton.

Police were called following reports four teenagers had approached two boys, both aged 15, on Nicholson St about 8.40pm that night.

Allegedly armed with their huge weapons, the crew is accused of stealing an e-scooter and a pair of shoes before fleeing in the same vehicle.

Detectives on Tuesday executed search warrants across the city, where they seized machetes and the e-scooter.

Officers charged a 16-year-old boy with armed robbery, affray, theft of motor vehicle and possess prohibited controlled weapons.

He was remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were both hit with the same charges.

The pair was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

A 16-year-old girl was last week charged and remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date.

The initial incident occurred outside popular bayside restaurant White Rabbit.

Owner George Daou said it was “only a matter of time” ­before someone was seriously injured or killed.

“This is the second time in six weeks that these teenage thugs have been out here in the middle of Brighton waving around knives,” he said.

“Locals are fed up with youth crime around here. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets stabbed or worse.”

Locals have slammed the “out-of-control” surge in offences committed by teenagers.

Offences of theft, burglary and property damage all increased across the bayside area over the past year.

Brighton MP James Newbury said the community was fed up with youth crime.

“What will it take for Jacinta Allan to stop ignoring violent crime and toughen the law?” he said.

Police have increased ­patrols in the inner bayside.

Originally published as Four teens arrested and charged after machete, knife incident on Church St, Brighton