THREE men have been arrested over a series of aggravated burglaries last week at Mount Martha, Mount Eliza, Glen Iris, Toorak, Camberwell and Malvern.
Detectives from the Southern Metro Crime Team executed two warrants at addresses in Frankston, Friday 30 April, seizing items allegedly linking those arrested with the break-ins.
A 21-year-old Frankston man has been charged with 13 offences, including aggravated burglary, burglary, theft of motor vehicles and theft.
An 18-year-old Frankston man has been charged with 18 offences, including aggravated burglary, burglary, theft, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, possessing a drug of dependence, theft of motor vehicles and traffic offences.
The men were remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
A 17-year-old Frankston teen has been charged with 12 offences, including aggravated burglary, burglary, theft, handling stolen goods, possessing the proceeds of crime and theft of a motor vehicle. He has been remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
The charges follow the capture of the trio in the Melbourne CBD after police spotted a Mazda 3 sedan – stolen from Tyabb on Thursday night – on Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby about 10.50pm later that night.
The police Air Wing followed the car across the south-eastern suburbs where the driver allegedly reached speeds of 170kph.
While travelling through Oakleigh, it is alleged a woman jumped from the car. She was arrested soon after.
The car then continued towards the Melbourne CBD where police used stop sticks on Smithfield Road, Flemington. Despite punctured tyres the driver continued on until the car brushed a pedestrian on Elizabeth Street and crashed into a tram stop at Victoria Street.
Two of the men allegedly ran off but were arrested soon after by the Critical Incident Response Team.
The woman, 19, of Ferntree Gully, was charged with theft, possessing prescription medications and committing an indictable offence while on bail. She was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 4 May 2021
