Two teens charged following shop fire in Tarneit

Police have charged two teenage boys following a fire in Tarneit this morning.

Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at a shop on Wool Street about 2.30am.

Fire crews extinguished the blaze at the unoccupied premises which sustained significant damage.

Investigators were told multiple offenders fled in a Toyota Corolla, which was later located dumped at the intersection of Dohertys and Mount Cottrell roads in Mount Cottrell.

Following a thorough search of the area by general duties officers, the Critical Incident Response Team, Dog Squad and Air Wing, two 17-year-old boys from the Greater Dandenong area were taken into custody about 5am.

One of the boys was taken to hospital after being bitten by a police dog.

The duo has since been charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage by fire, conduct endangering life/serious injury, theft of motor vehicle and possess articles to destroy.

One boy will be directly presented to a children’s court and the other remains in hospital where a bedside remand hearing will be facilitated.