FOUR teenagers have been arrested following an aggravated burglary in Mentone, 11pm, 18 March.
The teens – of Chelsea Heights, Patterson Lakes, Cranbourne and Heatherton – entered a Plummer Rd house via the front door and allegedly stole the keys to a silver Holden utility parked in the driveway, as well a wallet, credit cards and personal items.
It is believed the car was used in the robbery of a house in McAuliffe Cl, Mt Eliza, 24 March, in which a Fiat station wagon, BMW X3 station wagon, jewellery and electrical equipment were stolen.
The teenagers, all except one aged under 18, may be linked to the Apex crime gang. They were arrested at Cranbourne East the same day and the Fiat station wagon recovered, however the BMW, registration XCE 016, is still missing. The silver utility was later found at Patterson Lakes.
Detective Senior Constable Phil Wilkinson, of Kingston CIU, said the ute may have been involved in a carjacking in Clayton South, 12.30am, 21 March, in which a group of teenagers brandishing a shotgun menaced couples in two cars.
They used the butt of the gun to smash the rear window of a Ford sedan, but the occupants refused to budge. Two women in the other car – a dark blue 2004 Honda Accord – jumped out and ran when the gun was allegedly turned on them. The car, registration TWC235, is still missing.
An 18 year old, of Chelsea Heights, has been charged with aggravated burglary and theft of a motor car. He appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last week and was remanded to a date to be fixed. A bail application was heard at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday) and adjourned until Friday.
The others have been remanded to appear at the Melbourne Children’s Court at a date to be fixed.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 6 April 2016