Three teens charged over spate of alleged e-bike thefts using weapons and counterfeit cash

Three teens have been charged over their alleged involvement in a syndicate targeting electric dirt bikes across Melbourne’s southern and eastern suburbs.

It will be alleged one teen had been recruiting younger boys to arrange purchase of the bikes via social media before allegedly using counterfeit cash to pay for them.

Some alleged incidents include:

• On 5 January, a 17-year-old boy negotiated the sale of his dirt bike in Cheltenham for $3950. The boy exchanged his dirt bike for $3950 of what police will allege turned out to be counterfeit cash.
• On 1 February, a 17-year-old boy negotiated the sale of his dirt bike in Glen Iris for $5700. The boy exchanged his dirt bike for $3950 of what police will allege was counterfeit cash.
• On 18 February, a 15-year-old boy was allegedly threatened with a machete and an extendable baton before his dirt bike was taken in parkland in Mulgrave.
• On 28 March, police have been told the sale of a dirt bike was negotiated via social media in Lysterfield. When the 15-year-old male victim questioned the counterfeit money, the group allegedly produced a machete and stole his bike.
• On 3 April, a 16-year-old boy had agreed to sell his dirt bike in a park in Springvale. He was allegedly immediately threatened with a machete, before being chased by the group on another electric bike, forcing him to hand over the keys to his bike.

No one was physically injured as part of the alleged thefts.

Each incident was reported to police, and following extensive enquiries, officers from the Knox Crime Investigation Unit executed three search warrants in the Greater Dandenong area on Wednesday 14 October.

During the searches, police seized an e-bike – which was believed to be stolen, $11,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime, almost $12,000 in counterfeit cash, an extendable baton and a sword.

A 17-year-old boy from the Greater Dandenong area was arrested and charged with three counts each of aggravated carjacking, armed robbery, assault with a weapon, use counterfeit cash, and two counts of obtain property benefit by deception. He was also charged with possessing more than $11,000 suspected to be the proceeds of crime, as well as more than $10,000 in counterfeit cash, and possessing a prohibited weapon.

A 15-year-old boy from the Greater Dandenong area was charged with two counts of aggravated carjacking and armed robbery, as well as possess and use prohibited weapon, and assault with a weapon.

They were direct presented to a children’s court, where they were remanded to reappear at a children’s court at a later date.

A 16-year-old boy was interviewed for theft of motor vehicle, tamper with motor vehicle, possess prohibited weapon and $1650 in counterfeit cash. He was released pending summons.

Enquiries to locate another alleged offender continue.

Anyone with information that may assist police with this investigation are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Reports can be made anonymously.