Police have arrested eight teenagers in relation to a string of crime incidents including a robbery at the family home of Pritpal Singh in Tarneit in Melbourne’s west.
A gang of four robbers ransacked Mr. Singh’s home on Sunday morning before decamping with valuables and a car belonging to a friend of Mr. Singh.
Pritpal, along with his wife and 17-month-old son, was forced to barricade himself in their bedroom. But an intruder, much to the horror of the family, kicked a hole in the bedroom door to gain access. According to Victoria Police, the arrested offenders committed two aggravated burglaries and a carjacking within the space of just one hour.
Pritpal Singh Source: 7 News
Northern Metropolitan Regional Crime Squad investigators made the arrests on Sunday night.
The arrests came when police were called at a vacant home in Tarneit following reports two males were at the premises about 4.50pm.
When police arrived the pair jumped a rear fence and with police in hot pursuit was arrested a short time later.
On a search of the vacant home, police uncovered material relating to two aggravated burglaries including one at Mr. Singh’s home.
Source: 7 News
Following the arrest of the duo, police were again called to the property when six males were spotted at the vacant home about 6.30pm.
When police arrived they noticed a red Ford, believed to have been the car stolen from Williams Landing, turn away from them with six people on board.
Police followed the allegedly stolen car to Baratta Road where it stopped and all six teens were arrested.
Police are also investigating whether those arrested were involved in an attempted carjacking in Jamieson Way, Point Cook about 5am Sunday morning.
A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old have since been released pending further enquiries.
The others remain in custody.
According to Victoria Police, day and night patrols are being conducted at high risk locations to prevent offences taking place.
A police spokesperson said since the Operation Cosmos-for which the police have been allotted additional resources- began, there have been over 150 arrests.
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Robbers ransack Pritpal Singh's home in Melbourne