An 18 year old male who moved interstate late last year as part of a rehabilitation effort was apprehended yet again owing to allegations that he was engaged in a string of violence throughout the bayside and south east suburbs in Melbourne.
Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives attended a Turner Road address in Highett on Tuesday, arresting five men in relation to an ongoing investigation of a number of alleged armed robberies and home invasions.
Victoria Police stated that this is part of an ongoing investigation of an alleged armed robbery in Brighton on Christmas Day, an affray in Mordialloc on December 29, as well as a home invasion in Bentleigh on December 30.
Police stated that the only items removed from the address in the Highett area were two vehicles, machetes,fake money, drugs of dependence and suspected stolen gas cylinders from one of the vehicles.
A second search warrant was also conducted at an address in Bentleigh.
An 18 year old male from Bentleigh was charged with armed robbery and unlawful assault, said police. An 18 year old male from Dandenong was charged with affray and was remanded to appear at the Moorabbin Magistrates Court on the 31st of December.
A second 18 year old male from Bentleigh was charged with possession of drugs of dependence and possession of a prohibited weapon, bailed to appear at the Moorabbin Magistrates Court on the 16th of March.
Released for further inquiries, as reported by police are an 18 year old male from Highett and an 18 year old male from Wallan.
Nine News reported that the Bentleigh man accused of the Brighton armed robbery is the same offender who was taken with another young offender to the Gold Coast just months before, where they engaged in sightseeing activities such as visiting theme parks as part of an initiative to attempt and end his re offending cycle.
This would need an amendment by the Department of Justice and Community Safety to his existing community correction order, as per the report.
The deal sparked political attacks when the scandal was made public in November with the state government blaming Commonwealth schemes including the NDIS, while adding the Department of Justice favored the orders being changed.
The National Disability Insurance Agency said earlier it could not comment on the matter specifically because those involved had not given permission.
Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, responding to the latest arrest as reported, “We see that youth offenders don’t think there’s consequences for their actions. Why would they?
The case reaches court as the Victorian government hardens its broader approach to violent youth offending.
The Allan government’s Adult Time for Violent Crime reforms cleared parliament in December, opening pathways for 14 and-above year old’s to be dealt with in adult courts and face adult sentencing on stipulated serious offences, subject to carve outs in some circumstances.
Police said the investigation in Highett remains ongoing.
