Victoria Police have charged another person in relation to a series of alleged high-harm crimes linked to a number of aggravated burglaries in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs.

Detectives from the Southern Metro Crime Team have worked
to identify and locate a number of people of interest in relation to a series of offending that occurred earlier last week.

Two males were arrested last Thursday following an alleged aggravated home invasion in Cranbourne North.

It is alleged the pair entered a property on Malmsbury Drive and one of the males threatened a woman and her two children with a knife before stealing her black Holden Commodore wagon.

The vehicle was travelling on the Princes Freeway when it struck an unmarked police car, causing the police vehicle to hit a concrete barrier.

A female senior constable in the vehicle was injured during the collision and was taken to hospital for treatment.

A short time later, the pair were arrested at a shopping centre in Berwick after the stolen vehicle allegedly collided with a number of civilian vehicles.

An 18-year-old from Doveton was taken to hospital and remained under Police guard and is expected to be interviewed following his release from hospital after he sustained a bite to the arm from a police dog.

The 17-year-old, from Clyde North, was arrested by police after a conducted energy device was deployed.

In relation to the Cranbourne North aggravated burglary, he has been charged with:
• Home invasion;
• Criminal damage;
• Theft;
• Theft of motor vehicle;
• Threat to inflict serious injury;
• Assault with weapon;
• Commit indictable offence whilst on bail; and
• Numerous traffic and driving related offences

He has also been charged with the following offences in relation to further aggravated burglaries in Pakenham and Rowville.
• Aggravated home invasion;
• Home invasion
• Theft (x2)
• Theft of motor vehicle;
• Threat to inflict serious injury (x2);
• Assault with weapon (x2);
• Commit indictable on bail (x2);
• Breaching CHO directions (x3); and
• Numerous driving and traffic related offences

Two other teens were arrested and charged Wednesday (Aug. 5) after they were found in an allegedly stolen vehicle in Hallam about 4pm.

The vehicle was stolen from a home on Gillian Place just after 3.30am on Wednesday (Aug. 5).

Offenders allegedly forced their way into the home and threatened the residents with a knife before demanding the victim hand over keys to his vehicle.

The offenders then fled in the victim’s black Toyota Aurion which was later sighted by police in Station St, Cranbourne on Thursday about 4pm.

As police attempted to stop the duo, an acting sergeant was struck by the vehicle as the offenders attempted to flee.

He sustained a broken vertebrae and is recovering at home.

The pair were subsequently arrested and a 16-year-old teenage girl from Cranbourne was cautioned for theft of motor vehicle.

A 16-year-old boy from Hallam has been charged with:
• Theft of motor vehicle;
• Aggravated intentional exposure of police officer to risk by driving
• Dangerous or negligent driving while pursued by police
• Reckless conduct endangering life
• Reckless driving
• Fail to stop motor vehicle on request
• Fail to comply with direction
• Intentionally cause serious injury
• Intentionally cause injury;
• Drive at a speed dangerous;
• Careless driving;
• Breaching CHO directions; and
• Other traffic related offences

He has been remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
Some of the charges also relate to an aggravated burglary that occurred in Rowville on Wednesday (Aug. 5).

Southern Metro Crime Team Detective Senior Sergeant David Cox said police had been working to bring those targeting our community before the courts.

“Our detectives have been working around the clock to investigate these crimes and hold offenders to account,” Det. Sen. Sgt Cox said.

“Our message to those committing these offences is very clear – police will continue to investigate these incidents to ensure you do not continue to inflict harm on the Victorian community.”