By ANEEKA SIMONIS
THREE offenders are on the run and one has been arrested following an alleged aggravated burglary in Pakenham leading to the emergency lockdown of three schools.
Students and teachers at River Gum Primary School, Hampton Park Primary School and Hampton Park Secondary College were kept from exiting school grounds, about noon on Tuesday 31 May, as police attempted to hunt down the alleged burglars turned car thieves.
Police said that about 10.30am, four offenders allegedly broke into an Ahern Road property, shocking a woman and child inside the home at the time.
They are then alleged to have stolen a Suzuki Swift, which two of the offenders fled in while the remaining two made off in a white Ford Territory getaway car.
The Suzuki vehicle was later spotted by police who pursued in to Pride Court, Hampton Park.
There, one offender was arrested in nearby Andrew Court with the assistance of the canine unit.
Three offenders are still on the loose.
A spokesperson from one of the Hampton Park schools put into lockdown confirmed at least one of offenders was seen running from the scene.
“Police were chasing him, he was on foot,” they said.
Police believe all four offenders arrived at the Ahern Road property in the Ford Territory.
Lockdowns at all three schools have been lifted.
Text messages were sent out to alert the wider school communities.
Anyone with information about the outstanding offenders’ whereabouts or details about the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
