By Lachlan Abbott and Erin Pearson
Seven teens, including six already on bail, have been arrested after speeding through Melbourne’s west in stolen cars, at times doing more than 200km/h, before smashing into a tree.
Among the youths, aged 15 to 17, was a boy who had been released on bail dozens of times, said an officer with knowledge of the case, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
A 16-year-old who was allegedly behind the wheel faced a children’s court late on Wednesday.
Charge sheets released exclusively to this masthead show police have charged the 16-year-old accused driver with 12 offences over the incident, including dangerous driving and possessing a baseball bat.
He is also charged with reckless conduct endangering life for allegedly reaching speeds of more than 200km/h at Werribee, while having six passengers in the car.
The court documents allege the teen stole a grey 2023 Skoda Kodiaq, worth $50,000, from Werribee and then a white Volvo XC60, worth $49,000, from Truganina, as part of the joyriding police pursuit.
During the brief hearing, the teen told the court he was fearful for his safety if taken to one particular youth jail before being reminded that “they have a clear obligation to keep you safe”.
He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody. His defence lawyer, however, indicated a bid for bail would probably be made next week.
Earlier, police said the white Skoda SUV allegedly stolen in an aggravated burglary in Tarneit on Sunday, was spotted driving at high speeds in Greens Road, Wyndham Vale, just after 11pm on Tuesday.
Police cars and a helicopter – which filmed the crime spree – tailed the vehicle through Werribee, Tarneit and Point Cook before it crossed over the West Gate Bridge towards the city.
The pursuit continued back to the western suburbs, where police said the offenders dumped the car in Featherbrook Drive, Point Cook, and jumped into a white Volvo. The second car is alleged to have been stolen in an aggravated burglary in Kalorama Street, Tarneit, on Tuesday.
“The Volvo allegedly sped off along the Princes Freeway, outbound towards Little River, before returning to the Werribee area,” police said in a statement.
“The car then crashed into a tree on Wisdom Avenue in Truganina.”
Five uninjured occupants were arrested at the scene, while two teenagers fled on foot but were soon caught. Police said several weapons were found in both vehicles.
“A 15-year-old boy, five 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy, all from the Wyndham area, will be interviewed by police,” the statement said.
Emma Prespanoski, the Tarneit resident whose Volvo was stolen in a home invasion before it was crashed, said she felt dirty and violated to learn a group had broken into her family’s house while she and her family slept.
However, she added: “We have become just used to hearing that news over this side of town.”
Prespanoski, 41, was home with her husband and two children, aged nine and 12, while her eldest daughter was away on a school camp. Her husband’s car was taken too, and remains missing. She feared the burglars had fed her labrador to keep it quiet, making it sick on Tuesday.
“You want to be shocked, and you want to be outraged, which I am, but you’ve got this other desensitisation hanging over your shoulder that this is just what you’ve become used to,” she said.
“It’s really a big issue. There’s no change happening. There needs to be a real shift towards that.”
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