FRANKSTON detectives arrested a 15-year-old Noble Park boy and an 18-year-old Mulgrave woman last Tuesday (1 December) in connection with the armed robbery of a Ford XR8 sedan from Bartlett St, Frankston South, early Friday 6 November.
Their arrests hopefully wrap up a crime spree in which five alleged offenders have been apprehended and charged with a range of serious offences over the past two weeks. Police previously charged a Springvale South man, 21, an 18-year-old Endeavour Hills man and a Keysborough youth, 17, in relation to the armed robbery (‘More arrests over carjacking’, The Times 30/11/15). A 15 year old, of Patterson Lakes, was earlier arrested over another incident and charged with car theft, as well as serious driving offences.
Police allege a group of up to five men in a stolen BMW X5 rammed the Ford, being driven by a 20-year-old man, and then threatened him with a shotgun and a handgun before stealing it. The group then drove off in the two cars, with the BMW involved in a fatal collision, Monday 9 November, in Mordialloc.
The Keysborough youth was arrested at his home, 24 November, and charged with armed robbery, assault and theft of motor cars. He was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong Children’s Court on 11 December. The 21 year old was charged with armed robbery, assault, three counts of theft of motor car, possess drug of dependence and other related offences. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week.
The Noble Park youth has been charged with theft of alcohol at a liquor outlet in Heatherhill Rd, Frankston, 8 November, theft of a BMW used in the robbery, handling stolen goods, and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Police allege they found a stolen VW ignition key in his pocket, but so far have been unable to find the car.
The youth was remanded to appear at Melbourne Children’s Court last week.
The girl was charged with multiple car thefts – possibly involving 20 cars and including the BMW – as well as multiple thefts and petrol drive-offs. She was bailed “under extensive conditions” for a filing hearing at a later date.
Detective Senior Constable Paul Roberts, of Frankston Embona Taskforce, said the stolen Ford was later recovered at Berwick, but not before it was used in two liquor store robberies in which staff were allegedly terrorised and cash stolen.
He said a 21-year-old Berwick man was arrested and charged with armed robbery for his role in a raids, the first at a Hall Rd, Carrum Downs, liquor store, 9pm, Monday 9 November, and the second at a Kingsville liquor store, about 8.40pm, Tuesday 24 November.
It is alleged he was one of two masked men who threatened staff with tomahawks before escaping with a quantity of cash.
Police have recovered a range of stolen cars used in multiple thefts, petrol drive-offs, aggravated burglaries and thefts of property over the past fortnight. They include the Ford XR8, a late model Mercedes Benz stolen from Sandringham, a BMW from Doncaster involved in the tragic death of the Carrum Downs woman at Mordialloc, as well as a Ford Territory and another BMW used in ram raids and thefts overnight 25 November.
