A FRANKSTON teenager was among eight youths arrested on Sunday night, 4 September, as part of Operation Cosmas.
The 14-year-old was charged by Northern Metropolitan Regional Crime Squad investigators with theft of a motor vehicle and committing an indictable offence while on bail. He was remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
The youths’ arrests followed two alleged aggravated burglaries and a carjacking within one hour in the north western suburbs.
The arrests came after police swooped on a vacant house in Ceratta Crescent, Tarneit, following reports of two men there premises about 4.50pm. The youths jumped a back fence with police in hot pursuit and were arrested a short time later.
Police searched the house and allegedly found items relating to two aggravated burglaries earlier in De Havilland Drive, Williams Landing and Caraleena Way, Tarneit.
In the first incident in Williams Landing, two men allegedly smashed a rear sliding door of the home, armed themselves with a knife and confronted the resident demanding his car keys, about 5am. They fled in the victim’s red Ford Festiva.
In the second incident four men forced their way into a Tarneit house by smashing a rear glass sliding door before allegedly stealing car keys and a black 2009 Holden Commodore about 5.45am.
The occupants of the home, who have a young baby, forcibly held their bedroom door closed to stop one of the intruders getting in while he kicked holes in the bedroom door.
Following the arrest of the pair in Ceratta Crescent police were again called to the property when six teenagers were seen there about 6.30pm.
When police arrived they saw a red Ford, believed to have been stolen from Williams Landing, turning away with six people inside. They followed the car to Baratta Rd where all six teens were arrested.
North Metro Crime Squad investigators are also investigating whether those arrested were involved in an attempted carjacking in Jamieson Way, Point Cook, about 5am Sunday.
Police were told eight men – two reportedly armed with iron bars – surrounded the car and tried to open the doors which were locked. They smashed a rear window before the victim managed to accelerate away, with two of the offenders rolling onto the bonnet and off the side of the car.
Those arrested are all males and include a 14-year-old from South Yarra, 14-year-old from Frankston, 16-year-old from Fitzroy North, 16-year-old from Tarneit, 14-year-old from Burnside, 15-year-old from Kings Park, 15-year-old from Carlton and 16-year-old from Tarneit.
The 15-year-old from Carlton and 16-year-old from Tarneit have since been release pending further inquiries. The others remain in custody.
“Police have escalated their response to aggravated burglaries and carjackings,” Leading Senior Constable Julie-Anne Newman said.
Operation Cosmas aims to prevent, deter and investigate aggravated burglaries and carjackings.
Day and night patrols are being conducted at high risk locations. Since the operation began there have been over 150 arrests.
