Police charge man after fast food robberies

Hobsons Bay Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a 28-year-old man in relation to two armed robberies, two vehicle thefts and a child stealing incident earlier in the week.

These incidents include:

• Theft of a motor vehicle and child stealing in Altona on 6 October. It is alleged the man stole a Kia Sorrento on Blythe Street about 5.23pm. It is alleged that a 7-year-old boy was sitting in the parked vehicle when the man took off in the car. The child was uninjured and located safely shortly after.

• Theft of a motor vehicle in Taylors Lakes on 8 October. It is alleged the man stole a Toyota Hilux utility from a shopping centre carpark on Melton Highway about 2.37pm.

• An armed robbery on Central Avenue in Altona Meadows on 10 October. It is alleged that the man entered a fast-food restaurant with a weapon about 11.05am and demanded cash. He then allegedly fled the scene.

• A second armed robbery on Station Road in Deer Park on 10 October. It is alleged the man entered another fast-food restaurant and demanded cash, before fleeing the scene.

This afternoon, detectives located the allegedly stolen Toyota Hilux outside an address on Ferris Avenue, Deer Park.

As officers went to enter the residential address, the man is believed to have climbed on top of the roof about 3.30pm.

Police were able to safely negotiate the man down, where he was arrested at the scene.

The 28-year-old man of no fixed address has been charged with 3 x armed robbery, 2 x theft of a motor vehicle, child stealing and drive whilst disqualified.

He will be remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 13 October.

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