MELBOURNE, VIC. — Three teens have been charged over their alleged involvement in a syndicate targeting electric dirt bikes across Melbourne’s southern and eastern suburbs.
Police allege one teen had been recruiting younger boys to arrange purchasing the bikes via social media before allegedly using counterfeit cash to pay for them.
Some alleged incidents include:
- On January 5, a 17-year-old boy negotiated the sale of his dirt bike in Cheltenham for $3950.
The boy exchanged his dirt bike for $3950 of what police will allege turned out to be counterfeit cash; - On February 1, a 17-year-old boy negotiated the sale of his dirt bike in Glen Iris for $5700.
The boy exchanged his dirt bike for $3950 of what police will allege was counterfeit cash; - On February 18, a 15-year-old boy was allegedly threatened with a machete and an extendable baton before his dirt bike was taken in parkland in Mulgrave;
- On March 28, police have been told the sale of a dirt bike was negotiated via social media in Lysterfield.
When the 15-year-old male victim questioned the counterfeit money, the group allegedly produced a machete and stole his bike; and - On April 3, a 16-year-old boy had agreed to sell his dirt bike in a park in Springvale.
He was allegedly immediately threatened with a machete, before being chased by the group on another electric bike, forcing him to hand over the keys to his bike.
No one was physically injured as part of the alleged thefts.
Following extensive enquiries, officers from the Knox Crime Investigation Unit executed three search warrants in the Greater Dandenong area on Wednesday, October 14.
During the searches, police seized an e-bike – which was believed to be stolen, $11,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime, almost $12,000 in counterfeit cash, an extendable baton and a sword.
A 17-year-old boy from the Greater Dandenong area was arrested and charged with three counts each of aggravated carjacking, armed robbery, assault with a weapon, use of counterfeit cash, and two counts of obtaining property benefits by deception.
He was also charged with possessing more than $11,000 suspected to be the proceeds of crime, as well as more than $10,000 in counterfeit cash, and possessing a prohibited weapon.
A 15-year-old boy from the Greater Dandenong area was charged with two counts of aggravated carjacking and armed robbery, as well as possessing and using a prohibited weapon, and assault with a weapon.
They were presented to a children’s court, where they were remanded to reappear at a children’s court at a later date.
A 16-year-old boy was interviewed for theft of a motor vehicle, tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of a prohibited weapon and $1650 in counterfeit cash. He was released pending summons.
Enquiries to locate another alleged offender continue.
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
