Southern Region Crime Squad detectives have charged a boy following a series of alleged service station armed robberies in Melbourne's south-east earlier this month.
It is alleged that a group of offenders attended a service station on High Street, Glen Iris about 10.30pm on 4 December.
Three members of the group allegedly exited a stolen black Volkswagen T-Roc, armed with weapons.
They allegedly made demands for cigarettes and jumped over the service counter.
Two employees retreated into a staff room before it is alleged that the offenders fled the scene empty-handed in the Volkswagen.
No one was physically injured.
It is alleged that the same offenders were involved in five additional armed robberies, at the following locations, later that night:
- a service station near the intersection of Whitehorse and Middleborough roads, Blackburn about 10.45pm
- a service station near the intersection of Springfield and Middleborough roads, Blackburn North about 10.50pm
- a service station on Canterbury Road, Ringwood about 10.55pm
- a service station near the intersection of Poath and North roads, Hughesdale about 11.40pm
- a supermarket on Hawthorn Road, Caulfield South a short time later
No one was physically injured during the incidents.
It is alleged that the Volkswagen was stolen from a property in Doncaster on 2 December.
Detectives arrested a 15-year-old boy from the Yarra Ranges area.
He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and six counts of armed robbery.
The boy was remanded to appear before a children's court at a later date.
The investigation to identify the remaining alleged offenders remains ongoing.
