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Five teenagers who allegedly robbed several businesses in Melbourne’s east while armed with machetes have been charged following a high-speed police pursuit.
Police believe the crime spree began just before 6pm yesterday when an armed offender allegedly attempted to break into a business in Belgrave South.
The spree continued 40 minutes later, when three offenders, one armed with a knife and others covering their faces, allegedly entered an IGA in Glen Waverley and stole about $16,000 in cigarettes.
About an hour later at an IGA in Montrose, the group allegedly emptied the shelves of tens of thousands of dollars more worth of cigarettes while workers huddled together nearby.
The group ran back and forth from a car as a customer unknowingly walked into the alleged armed robbery.
“We don’t get broken into at night anymore because of our level of security but it is becoming brazen and it is becoming more frequent,” the business owner told 9News.
They then allegedly targeted petrol stations in Doncaster and Wantirna, all while armed with machetes.
The spree ended in Boronia, when the group allegedly jumped the counter of another service station and stole another $13,000 worth of cigarettes and $1000 in cash.
It’s believed the group fled each incident in a BMW sedan that was stolen from a street in Footscray earlier this month.
Police then spotted the BMW sedan in Boronia near the Mountain Highway about 10.25pm and began tracking it as it allegedly drove “erratically and dangerously” through Glen Iris, Camberwell, Richmond, Collingwood, and Melbourne’s CBD.
Police said the BMW was allegedly travelling at more than 190km/hr on the East Link.
“Throughout the pursuit, the driver of the BMW allegedly very narrowly avoided civilian vehicles and pedestrians in the vicinity,” police said.
It was brought to a halt by police who rammed the car on Wellington Parade in East Melbourne about 11.20pm.
A 17-year-old Clyde boy has today been charged with armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, theft of motor vehicle and dangerous driving whilst pursued by police.
A 16-year-old Seaford boy, a 16-year-old Cranbourne East boy, a 15-year-old Wantirna boy and a 14-year-old Rowville boy have all been charged with armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and theft of motor vehicle.
They have all been remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date.
