Investigators from the Eastern Region Crime Squad have charged five boys, including three as young as 15, following a kidnapping and series of robberies and shop thefts across Ashwood, Olinda, Ivanhoe, Richmond, Blackburn, and Springvale.
The series of alleged offending commenced on 9 February when a 15-year-old boy was approached by a group of youths on Power Avenue, Ashwood. The child was forced into a vehicle and driven from the area where he was assaulted and had personal property stolen. The victim was released from the vehicle after 30 minutes and reported the incident to police.
Police will allege the same group of offenders carried out two separate liquor store thefts on 10 and 11 February on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda and Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe respectively.
On 12 February, three of the youths allegedly attended a convenience store on Bridge Road, Richmond armed with a crowbar and hammer. The youths allegedly threatened a staff member with the weapons and stole a large quantity of cigarettes.
The same group of youths then attended a supermarket in Salisbury Avenue, Blackburn armed with a baseball bat and threatened a staff member, before allegedly stealing cigarettes and alcohol.
On 14 February, a group of three youths in a white Mitsubishi Pajero attended the vicinity of Edinburgh Road, Springvale. Three school aged males were threatened with weapons and had personal items stolen in separate incidents within 15-minutes.
The same day, police arrested and charged three youths in relation to this series of offending, including:
• A 15-year-old Box Hill South boy was charged with kidnapping, armed robbery x 6 and theft (shopsteal) x 2. He was remanded in custody and will appear at a children’s court today.
• A 15-year-old Burwood East boy was charged kidnapping, armed robbery x 3, commit indictable offence on bail x 4 and theft (shopsteal) x 2. He was initially remanded in custody, however was released on bail by a children’s court yesterday.
• A 16-year-old Malvern East boy was charged with shopsteal and unlicensed driving. He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
On Thursday 15 February, police arrested and charged two more youths, including:
• A 17-year-old Burwood boy was charged with kidnapping, armed robbery x 3 and shopsteal. He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
• A 15-year-old Croydon boy was charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, shopsteal and handle stolen goods. He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
Police are still searching for a stolen vehicle linked to the offending. A white 2017 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was last seen bearing stolen registration plates of 1TS2VY.
Anyone with information on the location of the vehicle is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
