ST KILDA, VIC. — Detectives from the Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit have charged a 33-year-old Argentinian national following a series of incidents in the Port Phillip area.
He was arrested by detectives yesterday morning and has been charged with:
- attempted aggravated carjacking;
- making threats to kill;
- unlawful assault;
- criminal damage;
- committing an indictable offence whilst on bail;
- two counts of burglary;
- theft of motor vehicle; and
- two counts of theft.
Police will allege the man approached a 79-year-old woman, who was sitting inside her parked Lexus 350H wagon on the Esplanade about 5am on Saturday, August 15.
The man allegedly made demands for the woman to exit her vehicle, and when she refused to do so, hit the vehicle with a sledgehammer multiple times.
Before walking away, the man allegedly threatened to kill the woman, who called triple zero.
The man had fled before police arrival, and the woman was not physically injured.
Police will further allege the man gained access to an unoccupied residence on Beaconsfield Parade in Middle Park on Monday, August 17.
When an employee of the owner called in to check on the residence about 8am, she entered to find the 33-year-old fast asleep on a couch inside.
When the woman screamed, the man fled the scene.
A search of the property found the keys to a 2014 Porsche Cayenne had been stolen, along with the car, which was parked out the front of the property.
Yesterday, officers were called to another residence on Beaconsfield Parade to reports of a man inside a property.
Upon attending the scene, officers located the 33-year-old once again asleep on a couch inside the residence.
He was arrested at the scene, while the Porsche was recovered on the corner of Langridge Street and Beaconsfield Parade.
The Argentinian national was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 11.
