By ANEEKA SIMONIS
ALLEGED Apex gang members from Pakenham, Cranbourne and Hampton were arrested following a series of violent aggravated burglaries and car thefts in the inner south-east over the weekend.
Victims sleeping in their Ormond and Brighton East homes were left battered and bruised following the alleged assault in the early hours of the morning on Saturday 23 April.
A number of young international students live in one of the targeted homes.
One of the victims, who did not wish to be named, said he was asleep in his bed when the gang broke in through a back window reportedly armed with a hammer and metal rod.
“When I lie on the bed, they kicked me and punched me and I feel painful and got my phone,” the man told Seven News.
“After that I rushed to the windows and see my car and my car have been driven away.”
Investigators executed warrants at addresses in Cranbourne and Hampton Park later that night and allegedly found a stolen BMW, a Honda CRV, mobile phones and a computer.
Five men including a 17-year-old Pakenham youth, 17-year-old Cranbourne youth, 19-year-old Cranbourne man, 18-year-old Hampton Park man and 16-year-old Carrum Downs youth were arrested and interviewed over the two burglaries.
Two of the men were charged with aggravated burglary, assault, theft of a motor car, handling stolen goods and possessing proceeds of crime.
They were remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Sunday 24 April.
A 17-year-old youth was charged with the same charges and remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
The Hampton Park and Carrum Downs teens were released pending further inquiries.
Detectives from Taskforce Tense were responsible for the teens’ arrests.
The taskforce established in recent months to combat the increasing rate of violent gang-related crime across the southern metropolitan area in recent months.
The Apex gang are alleged to have been involved in the Moomba Festival riot in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday 12 March.
Investigators have so far charged 25 people with a range of offences including affray, riotous behaviour, robbery and theft under the dedicated Taskforce Ares.
Police intend to summons a further seven people to appear at court.
The majority of those charged have been under the age of 18.
