Eastern Region detectives are investigating seven violent offences overnight that ended in a high-speed pursuit and arrest of five children.
The pursuit commenced when the allegedly stolen black BMW sedan was spotted by police in Boronia, near Mountain Highway, about 10.25pm.
With the assistance of the Air Wing, police tracked the stolen car as it drove erratically at high speeds across Glen Iris, Camberwell, Richmond, Collingwood, and Melbourne's CBD.
The BMW allegedly reached speeds of up to 190km/hour on Eastlink and continued to be driven erratically and at dangerous speeds, causing significant risk to the public into Melbourne's CBD.
Throughout the pursuit, the driver of the BMW allegedly very narrowly avoided civilian vehicles and pedestrians in the vicinity.
A co-ordinated police response involving police from uniform, highway patrol and the Air Wing resulted in police taking action to ram the stolen BMW on Wellington Street in East Melbourne about 11.20pm to prevent any further serious risk to the community.
The five teenage occupants were taken into custody by officers.
There were no injuries to police or civilians, however one of the occupants taken into custody sustained minor injuries and was conveyed to hospital for treatment.
Investigators have linked the stolen BMW to seven serious and violent offences that occurred prior to the pursuit last night where the offenders, armed with machetes, targeted small businesses.
• An attempted armed robbery in Belgrave South on Belgrave Road about 5.45pm, where it is alleged an offender armed with a knife attempted to open a locked front door of a business before fleeing in the stolen BMW;
• An armed robbery in Glen Waverley on Kerrie Road about 6.40pm where it is alleged three offenders, one armed with a knife, entered a store and stole approximately $16,000 in cigarettes before fleeing in the stolen BMW;
• An armed robbery in Montrose on Mount Dandenong Road about 7.40pm, where it is alleged four offenders entered the store before one offender, armed with a knife, made threats towards staff, stole cigarettes and then fled in the stolen BMW;
• An attempted armed robbery in Doncaster on Doncaster Road about 8.20pm, where it is alleged four offenders armed with knives attempted to access a cigarette cabinet inside a store before fleeing in the stolen BMW;
• An armed robbery in Diamond Creek on Main Hurstbridge Road about 8.45pm, where it is alleged four offenders tried to open a cigarette cabinet before stealing a cash box with approximately $650 inside before fleeing in the stolen BMW;
• An armed robbery in Wantirna on Boronia Road about 10.20pm, where it alleged four male offenders jumped the counter inside a business and attempted to steal cigarettes, before being confronted by a staff member and fleeing with five packets of cigarettes;
• An armed robbery in Boronia on Boronia Road about 10.25pm, where it is alleged four offenders jumped the counter of a business and stole approximately $13,000 worth of cigarettes and $1000 in cash before fleeing in an allegedly stolen BMW.
The BMW involved in this incident was stolen overnight on 8 and 9 April 2024 whilst parked on the street in Footscray.
The five boys arrested, aged 14 from Rowville, 15 from Seaford, 16 from Wantirna and two 17-year-olds from Clyde and Cranbourne East, remain in custody and will be interviewed by police.
Anyone with information, or who has dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
