A father of three has told how he broke a teenager's jaw after hearing a 'blood-curdling scream' and spotting the alleged intruder trying to get into his family's home.
Daniel Shoppee, 38, confronted the 17-year-old boy, who was allegedly carrying a machete, at his parents' gated home in Port Melbourne, Australia, at around 5.30am on Wednesday. The teenager was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted aggravated burglary and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Family Stay With Parents During Renovation
Mr Shoppee, his wife and their three children – aged one, two and four – were staying with his parents, both in their 60s, while their own home underwent renovation.
The parents first noticed a car loitering outside the property and went outside to investigate. The car drove away as they approached, but then Mr Shoppee's mother spotted a second figure allegedly standing inside the gate and screamed.
Machete Raised Above Head
Mr Shoppee and his father ran to confront the alleged intruder, leaving Mr Shoppee with a fractured hand and the teenager with a broken jaw. Police arrived soon after and arrested the teenager, who had been released from a 49-day sentence just a week earlier.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Mr Shoppee said: "People might say he's only 17 but he was a big guy and he was carrying a massive machete. It doesn't matter what age someone is when they're coming at you with a machete at 5.30am."
He told 7News the teenager had raised the machete above his head and said: "I won't hurt you if you open the gate."
Family No Longer Feels Safe
Mr Shoppee said the family no longer feels safe walking to the supermarket, adding: "We're at such a poor level in Victoria where families can't feel safe in their own home. We're not asking for something remarkable here, we just want to feel safe. There has to be a change."
He described the aftermath as "anger, it's sadness - overwhelming sadness of it all. Disappointment in just being let down time and time again by government." Mr Shoppee thanked responding officers who 'are doing their best' but noted they seemed 'deflated'.
He called for the government to reform youth crime legislation in favour of harsher penalties. The alleged intruder will be held in custody until he appears in a children's court at a later date.
