Ripponlea: Thirteen-year-old girl facing 52 charges after alleged hit-run and anti-Semitic crime spree
A teenage girl is facing dozens of charges after allegedly going on a four-day long crime spree which police say included at least one anti-Semitic attack.
A 13-year-old girl has been charged with dozens of serious offences after an alleged four-day crime spree during which multiple people were hit by stolen vehicles and members of the Jewish community were terrorised.
The girl, from Melbourne’s Bayside area, is facing a total of 52 charges, including reckless conduct endanger serious injury, multiple counts of theft of motor vehicle, burglary and threaten physical harm or property damage on ground of a protected attribute.
Police say she was among a group of female occupants in a stolen car who shouted offensive, anti-Semitic remarks and threw eggs at pedestrians on March 28.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The vehicle, a black Hyundai stolen from a gym in Caulfield, had been seen driving erratically in the Hampton, Ripponlea and Caulfield areas since Wednesday, 25 March.
“On Saturday, 28 March, the Hyundai allegedly swerved towards a group of people from the Jewish community in Ripponlea about 7pm,” a police statement read.
“The families were crossing the road at the intersection of Hotham Street and Glen Eira Road and narrowly escaped being struck by the car.”
Police said there were no physical injuries and the car fled the scene.
They allege the girl was driving the Hyundai at the time and was also involved in several other hit-and-run incidents involving stolen cars.
On Monday night, a male cyclist was knocked from his bike when he was hit by a stolen silver SUV.
Police say the 45-year-old was riding along St Kilda Street in Brighton when an occupant of a stolen silver SUV attempted to hit the bike with the passenger door about 6.50pm.
The SUV then crashed into the back of the bike before fleeing the scene. The cyclist was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Hours later, in a separate incident, police say a group of teenagers were travelling in a stolen white Volkswagen Golf when it rammed an e-scooter with two people on board in Elwood.
The victims were riding the e-scooter in the bike lane on Mitford Street when the Golf allegedly rammed the back of it about 12.10am.
“Both riders fell from the e-scooter as it crashed into a parked vehicle. They did not require medical attention,” the police statement read.
“One of the victims and a passerby began filming the offending vehicle, before one of the teenagers allegedly threatened them.”
The Golf, which was allegedly stolen from a gym in Burwood on March 30, fled the scene.
A short time later it was spotted on Beach Road in Black Rock, driving over a footpath and then taking off at speed on the Nepean Highway, before travelling on the Dingley Bypass, the Eastlink, Princes Highway and the Monash Freeway.
The car was eventually forced to a stop on Waverley Road after police deployed stop sticks and the three female occupants were taken into custody.
The 13-year-old girl was remanded to appear at a children’s court.
A 16-year-old girl and another 13-year-old girl, both from the Cardinia area, were also arrested and charged with theft of motor vehicle and handle stolen goods and were bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for hate-based behaviour and such activity will not be tolerated,” police said.
Anyone who witnessed the incidents or who has dashcam or CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
