Northern Metropolitan Regional Crime Squad investigators as part of Operation Cosmas arrested eight teens last night following two aggravated burglaries and a carjacking all within the space of an hour in the north western suburbs yesterday morning., Victoria Police say
The arrests came when police attended a vacant home in Ceratta Crescent, Tarneit following reports two males were at the premises about 4.50pm.
When police arrived the pair jumped a rear fence and with police in hot pursuit was arrested a short time later.
A search of the vacant home uncovered items relating to two aggravated burglaries yesterday morning, 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 just after 5am.
The pair fled in the victim’s car, a red Ford Festiva.
In the second incident four men forced their way into a Tarneit home by smashing a rear glass sliding door before allegedly stealing a set of car keys along with a black 2009 Holden Commodore about 5.45am.
The occupants of this home, who have a young baby, forced their bedroom door closed to stop one of the intruders entering while he kicked holes in the bedroom door.
Following the arrest of the duo in Ceratta Crescent police were again called to the property when six males were spotted at the vacant home about 6.30pm.
When police arrived they noticed a red Ford, believed to have been the car stolen from Williams Landing, turn away from them with six people on board.
Police followed the allegedly stolen car to Baratta Road where it stopped and 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 yesterday morning.
It is understood that in this attack eight men surrounded a vehicle; two reportedly armed with iron bars, and tried to open the car doors which were locked.
The rear window of the car was then smashed and shattered before the victim managed to accelerate away, striking two of the offenders who reportedly rolled onto the bonnet and off the side of the car.
Those arrested are all males and include:
- A 14-year-old from South Yarra
- A 14-year-old from Frankston
- A 16-year-old from Fitzroy North
- A 16-year-old from Tarneit
- A 14-year-old from Burnside
- A 15-year-old from Kings Park
- A 15-year-old from Carlton
- A 16-year-old from Tarneit
The 15-year-old from Carlton and 16-year-old from Tarneit have since been release pending further enquiries.
The others remain in custody.
Victoria Police has escalated its response to aggravated burglaries and carjacking’s across the state. At the start of May we rolled out Operation Cosmas – drawing together investigators under the umbrella of Crime Command.
These investigators within each region were allocated additional resources to the operation which aims to prevent, deter and investigate aggravated burglaries and carjacking’s.
Day and night patrols are being conducted at high risk locations to prevent offences taking place.
Since the operation commenced there have been over 150 arrests.
