Crime rampage

By Lia Bichel
CARS were stolen and torched, a Good Samaritan was battered into a critical condition, and several items were damaged during an hour-long rampage by two men in Casey last week.
At 5.45pm on 5 October, police allege two men began a crime spree after they were involved in an argument with an Endeavour Hills man at his Shafer Court property.
Leading Senior Constable Cynthia Cameron said the men punched holes in the walls of the man’s home, before assaulting him and stealing his white Ford sedan. The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face. The two men then drove the white Ford sedan around Endeavour Hills, “running down” fences, letterboxes and rubbish bins.
The men proceeded to dump the car and made their way to Frangipani Close, where they tried to steal another vehicle after throwing a brick through the window. When the 50-year-old driver of the car slowed down, the two men opened the door and attempted to remove him. He was able to drive away when a 44-year-old neighbour intervened.
The two men allegedly used a fence post to bash the Good Samaritan, and kicked and punched him to his head and body. The victim was taken to Monash Medical Centre where he is now in an induced coma. According to Sen Const Cameron he is in a critical but stable condition.
The rampage continued on into Erica Court, where they allegedly threatened a 44-year-old woman with a broken bottle. It is believed the woman was doing a letter drop with her daughter, 15, while her son, 14, waited in her parked red Kia Rio.
The men then allegedly stole her car and the 14-year-old boy managed to jump out and escape.
Cranbourne North was the next destination for the duo. They drove the stolen Kia Rio on the wrong side of the road and approached a 30-year-old man driving a Holden Commodore. As the Kia Rio drove towards his car, the man shouted at them. The men turned to follow the car and rammed it 10 times before the Holden Commodore hit a ditch. The pair threw an empty bottle at the car before driving to a construction site at Eliza Street, Cranbourne North, where the red Kia Rio was bogged in the mud and set alight.
The two men fled the scene in another vehicle, but Sen Const Cameron said specific details about the car were unclear.
Police inquiries led to the arrest of a 23-year-old man from Somerville and a 27-year-old from Langwarrin at a Cranbourne North address the next day (Tuesday, 6 October).
They were charged with serious assaults, assaults causing injuries, criminal damage, theft of a motor car, armed robbery, reckless conduct endangering life, and arson. Both men were remanded in custody and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in January, 2010.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Senior Constable Ed Keon-Cohen on 9705 3111 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.