SIX teenagers were arrested in Seaford last week in relation to a string of alleged offences including car thefts and aggravated burglaries.
Police allege that two cars were stolen on 10 July, a Subaru from Safety Beach and a Land Rover from Mount Martha. They allege that the first two car thefts were followed by a number of aggravated burglaries across Mt Martha, Safety Beach, Mount Waverley, Edithvale, Mordialloc, Dandenong South, Montmorency, and Eltham over the next four days.
A Volkswagen and BMW were stolen from Mount Waverley on 11 July and a Kia was taken from Eltham on 13 July, police allege. Those three cars have not yet turned up.
Police say they spotted the Subaru and Land Rover in Beaumaris just after 1.30am on 14 July. The offenders allegedly drove at police when they fled, leaving two police cars damaged.
With the help of the police helicopter, police pulled over the Subaru in Seaford and arrested four occupants. Two more people were arrested soon afterwards nearby.
Five teenagers have been charged. A 15-year-old boy from Frankston was charged with aggravated reckless exposure of police officer to risk by driving a stolen motor vehicle, theft of motor vehicle, possession of methylamphetamine, dealing with the proceeds of crime, unlicensed driving and commit indictable offence while on bail. A 15-year-old Hastings boy was charged with aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, attempted burglary, theft of motor vehicle, theft, attempted theft, unlicensed driving, and commit indictable offence while on bail. A 15-year-old Noble Park boy was charged with aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, theft of motor vehicle and attempted theft of motor vehicle. All three boys were remanded to appear at a children’s court.
Two boys were bailed – a 17-year-old Ferntree Gully boy charged with theft of motor vehicle and possess cannabis, and a 17-year-old Carrum Downs boy charged with theft of motor vehicle and commit indictable offence while on bail. A 15-year-old Seaford boy was arrested then released pending summons, police say.
Southern Metro region crime team detective senior sergeant David Cox said the arrests were made as part of a police operation. “As part of Operation Alliance, we have an intense focus on disrupting youth networked offenders,” he said. “In the first instance, we will do everything in our power to prevent crime but when crime does occur, we will be there to hunt down those responsible for threatening our community and put them before the courts.”