Three teenagers have been charged after an alleged crime spree across Melbourne’s south-east and Bayside areas, in which lone women were reportedly dragged, punched and robbed of their handbags.
Police allege a group of youths carried out 21 offences last week, including robberies, armed robberies, aggravated burglaries and petrol drive-offs.
Two cars allegedly used in the offences were stolen from outside a gym in Glen Waverley on September 21. The vehicles were then reportedly used during a series of incidents near shopping centres and commercial strips.
Alleged robberies across Melbourne’s south-east
On September 24, a 64-year-old woman was allegedly dragged by several offenders at traffic lights outside Chadstone Shopping Centre at about 7.45pm, with her groceries then stolen.
A short time later, another woman in the area was allegedly punched in the face and had a designer purse taken. A third woman was reportedly pushed to the ground and robbed of her bag on the Princes Highway in Clayton at about 8pm.
Police also allege a fourth woman had her handbag stolen as she left a hairdresser in Highett. At about 8.40pm, offenders allegedly chased a male convenience store worker with a machete before taking cash from the shop. The worker was not physically injured.
Police are investigating whether two earlier incidents are connected to the alleged spree. In separate incidents, a 74-year-old woman and a 54-year-old woman reportedly had their bags snatched on Beach Road in Beaumaris and Bluff Road in Highett.
Two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man were arrested during a series of raids in Springvale and the Greater Dandenong area on Wednesday.
Charges have not yet been laid over the alleged bag snatchings, police said. The trio have instead been charged with other theft-related offences, including multiple counts of aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.
The 18-year-old, from Springvale, was remanded in custody and due to appear before Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday facing nine charges.
One of the 16-year-olds was granted bail and is due to appear before a children’s court on six theft-related charges. The other boy, who faces two counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail, was remanded for a children’s court appearance on Thursday.
Investigations remain ongoing.
