Two teenagers will face court following a Norlane carjacking and police are continuing to investigate a suspected arson attack on a Bellarine station.
A pair of boys from the Wyndham area, aged 16 and 17, were arrested and charged after allegedly assaulting two people before stealing their vehicles in two separate incidents on August 22.
It is believed that the teenagers approached a silver Hyundai Elantra parked in Norlane’s Seagull Park at about 10.15pm, with one offender smashing the car window with a baseball bat before the group dragged the male driver out of the vehicle and assaulted him.
The offenders allegedly stole the Hyundai and fled the scene, with the car’s 24-year-old male owner from Norlane taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the incident.
The driver of a Nissan X-Trail was also allegedly assaulted two hours later, before his vehicle was stolen near Presidents Park in Wyndham Vale.
Detectives subsequently arrested the teenagers following the incidents, with the 16-year-old bailed and 17-year-old remanded to face Melbourne Children’s Court on August 28.
The 16-year-old was charged with two counts of aggravated carjacking, recklessly causing injury, theft of a motor vehicle, and assault with weapons.
The 17-year-old boy was charged with two counts of aggravated carjacking, recklessly causing injury, possession of a controlled weapon, possession of cannabis, theft of a motor vehicle, and assault with weapons.
Police will also continue to investigate a suspected arson attack on Portarlington Police Station involving a flammable liquid allegedly poured outside the station sometime between 4pm on August 21 and 8am on August 22.
Victoria Police Western Region Division One Superintendent Michael Reid told the Independent on August 26 that investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the incident were ongoing.
“The scene was forensically examined thoroughly and obtained CCTV is being accessed and reviewed,” he said.
The station was closed at the time of the incident, and the fire self-extinguished overnight, which caused minor damage to the front and inside of the building.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au or 1800 333 000.
