By ANEEKA SIMONIS
BABY-FACED criminals with suspected links to the Apex gang or their emerging group of copycat offenders are thought to be responsible for several violent offensives launched on Pakenham residents in their own homes recently.
All crimes, complete with the typical hallmarks of an Apex hit including car thefts and aggravated burglaries, have been put under investigation by Task Force Tense set up to respond to the rising number of aggressive juvenile offences carried out by the teen gang.
Before 5am on Sunday 5 June, two homes in Delacour Crescent, Pakenham, were targeted in aggravated burglaries.
A Mazda3 vehicle and handbag containing credit cards were stolen from one home stormed by the offenders, and a motorised scooter was taken from another in the street.
It is believed the victim whose Mazda3 was taken was on the phone to police when offenders launched their second attack on the home, stealing another car.
“It is believed the same offenders returned to the same residence where the Mazda was stolen and stole a second vehicle, a grey Hyundai, about 7.30am,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said, adding that the scooter stolen was located abandoned nearby at 8am.
Police are yet to charge those responsible.
It’s not the first time homes in the area have been targeted in repeated car thefts.
A Flemington Rise, Officer home had a car taken from outside the property overnight between Thursday 28 May and Friday 29 May.
Another car was stolen from the property the next night.
A third car was stolen from a home in the same street on Thursday 2 June, but police did not confirm if it was stolen from the same property targeted days earlier.
However, the thefts are all confirmed to be under investigation by the specialised Apex gang task force.
Victims sleeping in a Woods Point Drive, Beaconsfield home experienced the same violent trauma in recent days.
However, police have charged the teen allegedly responsible for the aggravated burglary where futile attempts were made at stealing a vehicle.
The teen has been charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of burglary, three counts of theft of motor vehicle, evasion of police and theft.
He has been remanded in custody to appear at a children’s court following the alleged home invasion at 4.15am on Thursday 2 June.
The offensives come days after police, including the dog squad, ran down and arrested a 14-year-old Pakenham boy over the alleged theft of a car obtained in a frightening alleged home invasion at Ahern Road, Pakenham.
A grandmother and two children were home at the time of the alleged gang raid on Tuesday 31 May which ended in the stolen car dumped in Andrew Street, Hampton Park, where three surrounding schools were put into emergency lockdown.
Police alleged three other people were involved in the alleged crime spree, but said no other arrests were made.
Anyone with information about these incidents are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
