MORE than 30 police in 15 cars directed by a police helicopter tracked a stolen car along Mornington Peninsula Freeway and arrested five teenagers in Frankston, 3.15pm, Thursday 29 June.
The chopper followed the unwitting boys in a Jeep stolen from Cheltenham as it made detours down side streets on its way south while guiding police ground units who lay in wait.
Perhaps becoming aware that they were being followed, the Jeep turned off the freeway at Golf Links Rd and made its way along side streets. With the chopper’s help, police set up “stop sticks” in Glenview Crescent which punctured the car’s tyres and then dragged the boys to the ground.
Detective Sergeant Paul Busuttil, of Frankston CIU, said the youths, aged 14-16, of Cranbourne, Dandenong, Noble Park and Elwood, were charged with offences including evading police, theft of a motor car, armed robbery, aggravated burglary, attempted burglary and carjacking, which occurred in Frankston, Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Dandenong and Box Hill over the past few weeks.
Some of the youths were in breach of previous bail conditions. They were all remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.