Teen charged following two armed robberies in Melbourne's North

Mill Park Divisional Response Unit officers have charged a teenager following two alleged armed robberies and a theft in Melbourne’s north earlier this month.

The 16-year-old from the Hume area has been charged with theft, 2 x armed robbery and theft of motor vehicle.

He was remanded to appear before a Children’s Court at a later date.

The charges follow three alleged incidents in Mill Park and Epping, including:

• A theft at a shopping Centre on McDonalds Road on 9 April. It is understood the teen attended a store within the shopping centre about 11.20am and attempted to steal two speakers. Police will allege the teen threatened a worker at the store with a machete before fleeing the scene in a stolen Silver Astra.
• An armed robbery at a shopping centre on Lyndarum Drive on 9 April. Officers have been told two males, one allegedly armed with a machete, entered a store about 11.45am. Police will allege the males stole cartons of cigarettes before fleeing the scene.
• A second armed robbery at a shopping centre on McDonalds Road on 15 April. Officers believe three males attended a jewellery store about 4pm. It is understood two males, one of which was armed with a machete, approached an open jewellery counter and stole multiple pieces of jewellery. The trio fled the scene in a stolen black MG Hatch.

On 17 April, officers executed two search warrants in Mickleham and Collingwood where two males were arrested. On 29 April, a further two search warrants were executed in Craigieburn and Meadow Heights, where a further two males were arrested.

An 18-year-old man from Craigieburn was charged a number of charges including with 2 x armed robbery, theft of motor vehicle.

He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 11 June.

A 20-year-old Collingwood man was charged with armed robbery and theft of motor vehicle.

He was remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 17 July.

A 16-year-old male from the Hume area was charged with armed robbery and theft of motor vehicle.

He was remanded to appear before a children’s court at a later date.

Police will allege the Holden Astra was stolen from a Mickleham address 9 April.

Police will allege the MG Hatch was stolen from a Wollert address on 17 March.