Source : Perth Now news
Three teenagers have been arrested for their alleged roles in a spree of theft and other criminal activity, including a night of pillaging handbags and purses from unsuspecting women.
Two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in parts of Victoria’s Greater Dandenong area on Wednesday after police linked them to a series of criminal incidents the week prior.
A single group of youths are allegedly responsible for committing 21 separate offences culminating in the use of a stolen vehicle to rob “mostly lone women” in Melbourne’s bayside and southeastern suburbs on September 24.
Police say the chaos began when several teenagers stole a white 2026 Haval Jolion and a black 2017 Honda Odyssey from outside a gym in Glen Waverley on September 21.
“The group are then alleged to have used these vehicles to rob mostly lone women across Melbourne’s bayside and southeastern suburbs, including four on Thursday night, September 24,” a police spokesman said.
Between 7.45pm and 8.40pm, four different women were robbed and a male staff member of a convenience store was threatened by a person with a machete before cash was stolen from the register.
Three of the four women were reportedly physically attacked, with one telling police she was “punched in the face”.
A 74-year-old woman’s handbag was snatched on September 23, and a 54-year-old woman’s bag was stolen on September 25.
On Wednesday, one of the 16-year-old boys was charged with two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and one of handling stolen goods.
The other 16-year-old was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of theft of a motor vehicle, attempted theft, burglary, theft, and two counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail.
The 17-year-old was charged with three counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of motor vehicle theft, attempted aggravated burglary, attempted theft, burglary, and theft.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anybody with footage or information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
