Car theft foiled as Melbourne family trick home invaders with wrong set of keys
A Melbourne couple has fought back against a gang of African car thieves who smashed into their home and beat them, while their young son slept nearby.
CCTV obtained by 7 News shows a hooded gang of seven youths swarming around the family’s car, at Rockbank, west of Melbourne, at 3.15am Sunday morning.
The victims said the youths were armed with poles and sticks from a construction site next door, ready to seize the family's Holden SS Commodore.
After failing to enter through the front door, the youths smashed a back window of the home and confronted the owners.
When the father confronted the gang, they attacked.
They demanded keys but fled because the owners, who have lived at the home less than a month with their 12-year-old son, tricked them - handing over a set for their other car instead.
The group had been squeezed into a stolen Toyota Camry, seen driving the streets of the Woodlea estate for at least half an hour.
The victim’s daughter Jade Ribeiro told 7 News the incident has terrified her family.
“We're all shaken. How else can you be after you've had eight Sudanese men break into you, rough you up, beat up my step dad?
“Apparently there's blood all over the floor from my stepdad. Got a cut cheek and eyebrow and concussion.”
She said her younger brother was left shaken by the break in.
“He's terrified. Apparently he's not stopped crying.
“[My mother] saw one of them with a stick bashing him. She got involved then they've hit her as well.”
The commotion work Samuel, a neighbor, who saw the intruders fleeing the scene.
“I looked out the window because I was awakened by the scream. I see people coming from the house running and there is a car waiting out the front,” he said.
Home invasions are now happening at least a couple of times a week across Melbourne. Some gangs seem to prefer new estates, with residents scattered among empty blocks and houses under construction.
Police confirmed a 16-year-old boy was arrested at a Melton house Sunday morning following an aggravated burglary in Rockbank.
He faced an out of sessions hearing and has been charged with a number of offences including aggravated home invasion, intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, theft of motor vehicle and commit indictable offence while on bail, police said.
Police allege a group of six to eight males broke into a property in Sassafras Way around 3am Sunday and threatened the occupants before assaulting a 42-year-old man.
An investigation continues and the boy has been remanded to appear at a Children’s Court at a later date.
