SOUTH-EAST: 21 offences in 5 days
Southern Metro Region Crime Squad detectives are investigating a series of 21 offences committed by a group of youths over five days.
Several teenagers stole two vehicles, a white 2026 Haval Jolion and a black 2017 Honda Odyssey now displaying stolen registration plates XUW815, from outside a Glen Waverley gym about 5pm on Monday.
The offenders then used these vehicles to rob mostly lone women across Melbourne’s bay-side and south-eastern suburbs, including four on Thursday night (Sep. 24):
• About 7.45pm a 64-year-old woman was dragged by several offenders and had her groceries stolen while waiting at traffic lights outside Chadstone Shopping Centre
• A short time later a woman was punched in the face and had her designer purse stolen outside Chadstone Shopping Centre
• About 8pm a woman was shoved to the ground and had her bag stolen on the Princes Hwy in Clayton
• About 8.10pm a woman had her handbag stolen as she left a hairdressers on Bluff Rd in Highett
• About 8.40pm the offenders were loitering at a convenience store on Bluff Rd in Black Rock, before chasing a male staff member with a machete. They stole cash and the victim was not physically injured.
n In earlier incidents, on Wednesday (Sep. 23) a 74-year-old Beaumaris woman was walking along Beach Rd, Beaumaris, when a white Haval SUV stopped nearby.
A young male passenger, wearing a balaclava, exited the vehicle and snatched the woman’s handbag.
A short struggle ensued, during which the woman sustained minor injuries.
The handbag, containing cash and a mobile phone, was stolen.
The male then re-entered the vehicle, which drove away along Beach Rd.
The following day, a 54-year-old Highett woman was walking near the intersection of Bluff Rd and Highett Rd when the same white Haval SUV stopped nearby.
A young male passenger, wearing a balaclava, exited the vehicle and snatched the woman’s bag, which contained personal items including her purse.
The male then re-entered the vehicle, which drove north along Bluff Rd.
The woman was not injured during the incident.
All up the group are believed to be involved in:
• Six robberies
• One attempted robbery
• Two armed robberies
• One attempted aggravated burglary
• Two aggravated burglaries
• One burglary
• One theft of number plate
• Eight petrol drive-offs
Detectives are investigating and appeal to anyone with information to come forward.
Police have released images of the white Havel.