Mornington Peninsula – Police have charged four additional people, including two teenagers, following a series of vehicle thefts and burglaries across the region earlier this month.
Latest Arrests and Charges
Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives executed fresh search warrants on Wednesday, 27 August, leading to several new arrests linked to the string of thefts between 8 and 14 August in Mount Eliza, Mornington, Mount Martha, Bittern and Somers.
- A 35-year-old Hastings woman has been charged with 21 offences, including:
- Recruiting a child to engage in criminal activity (3 counts)
- Supplying a drug of dependence to a child (2 counts)
- Handling stolen goods (6 counts)
She has been remanded and will face the Frankston Magistrates’ Court today.
- A 20-year-old Hastings man faces 17 charges, including five counts of theft of motor vehicle. He has been bailed to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 18 September.
- A 14-year-old boy has been charged with 25 offences, including four counts of theft of motor vehicle and 10 counts of theft from motor vehicle.
- A 16-year-old boy has been charged with 22 offences, including four counts of theft of motor vehicle and eight counts of theft from motor vehicle.
Both teenagers have been bailed and will face a Children’s Court at a later date.
Meanwhile, a 27-year-old Hastings man was arrested over an outstanding warrant.
Original Arrest
These charges follow the arrest of a 30-year-old Hastings man earlier this month, who was accused of recruiting children to take part in burglaries and thefts across the Mornington Peninsula. He remains remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 4 September.
The case comes amid a surge in youth-involved property offences across the Mornington Peninsula, with Victoria Police highlighting car thefts and break-ins as a growing concern.
