THREE youths on a rampage from Berwick to Mentone last week stole several cars, burgled houses and were involved in two hit-and-run crashes before being nabbed by Kingston detectives. A young woman driver is in a serious condition in hospital after being involved in a collision with one of the youths in a stolen car.
The 15 to 17 year old males, of Bentleigh and Dandenong, are alleged to have stolen a car in Berwick on Thursday evening before filling up and “doing a drive-by” in Clyde without paying for the petrol.
The next day (Friday) from 8-10.30am they allegedly burgled a house and stole another car from Hill St, Bentleigh East, before being involved in a hit-run incident in Warrigal Rd.
They dumped this car and drove off in the first stolen car to allegedly burgle a house and steal another car, a Peugeot, in Russell Ct, Mentone.
Leaving the scene in two stolen cars the youths panicked when they realised police were in hot pursuit. One, in a Mazda Tribute, sped off on Beach Rd and turned sharply into Marina Rd, Mentone, narrowly missing an elderly pedestrian crossing the road.
He then turned into Balcombe Rd but lost control and veered onto the wrong side of the road, smashing into an oncoming Nissan Pulsar sedan driven by a 21-year-old woman. She reportedly suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries, and was taken to The Alfred hospital.
The offender then allegedly ran off along Balcombe Rd and was later found by police hiding on a house roof. He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Children’s Court at a later date.
The other youths in the Peugeot were arrested later on Friday in Dandenong and bailed to appear at Moorabbin Children’s Court at a later date.
The youths face three charges each of theft of motor cars, theft of petrol, and two counts of burglary. The youth driving the Mazda also faces multiple driving offences, as well as conduct endangering life, evading police, recklessly causing serious injury and dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Detective Acting Sergeant Steven Cornwill, of Kingston CIU, is appealing for witnesses to the incidents. They should call 9556 6111. He is especially keen to talk to the elderly man who narrowly avoided being knocked down in Beach Rd.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 1 June 2015
