Disabled Man Forced From Home After Repeated Machete Attacks
A young disabled man has vowed never to return to his Melbourne home after being terrorised by a gang of balaclava-clad, machete-wielding thugs who targeted his property for the fourth time in three weeks. The 23-year-old victim, who had lived at the Heidelberg West address for 18 months, was left shaken and terrified according to his family, despite fortunately being absent during the latest violent incident.
Gang's Reign of Terror Captured on Camera
Doorbell camera footage captured the menacing scene as the gang, dressed entirely in black clothing and wearing Nike Air Max trainers with their faces concealed by balaclavas, swarmed outside the vulnerable man's property. The thugs used machetes to smash through a bedroom window before climbing inside the home, where two armed with large knives left a trail of destruction.
The hoodlums rampaged through the house, tearing through rooms and emptying cupboards and wardrobes. The victim's family believe the intruders were searching for expensive clothing and shoes during their brazen attack. Video evidence showed one thug fleeing with a cooler bag full of stolen items before stopping to deliberately smash the security camera.
"He's terrified. He's shaken. He can't sleep," the disabled man's mother told reporters. "He keeps crying. He keeps shaking. This is not acceptable in our community."
Lucky Escape as Victim Had Already Fled
In a fortunate twist, the disabled man had moved out of the property just one day before Saturday's attack, having fled "in fear of his safety" following several previous violent incidents at the same address. His mother expressed relief that her son wasn't present during the latest invasion, stating: "I'm just thankful that he's alive and he didn't have to witness the machetes in his face or anything more horrific."
The mother issued a plea to the perpetrators, saying: "These youth need to stop doing this to innocent, vulnerable people." The latest incident proved to be the final straw that broke the camel's back, with the family confirming the young man will not return to the Heidelberg West property.
Melbourne's Escalating Crime Wave
This violent home invasion forms part of a disturbing pattern of crimes that swept across Melbourne over the weekend. In a separate incident early on Saturday morning, a machete-wielding gang terrorised families in the city's affluent inner-eastern suburbs during a 20-minute crime spree.
Police have confirmed making two arrests after three male intruders allegedly targeted homes in Camberwell, Mont Albert, and Surrey Hills. The ordeal began at 1.55am when the trio stormed into a Camberwell home where 21-year-old Aaron was in the kitchen with his mother.
"They asked where the keys were to the house and used one arm to sweep a lot of the stuff off the kitchen counter onto the floor," Aaron told reporters. The intruders allegedly demanded keys to a Mercedes parked in the driveway before the brave son chased them out, grabbing a knife and threatening the trio to protect his family.
The quick-moving gang then attempted break-ins at properties in Mont Albert and Surrey Hills, where they successfully stole keys to a Mercedes B Class and Mazda CX3 from a home where a family of five slept. The commotion woke a 17-year-old girl who alerted her parents.
Police Make Arrests as Investigation Continues
Victoria Police traced one of the allegedly stolen cars to a Narre Warren home on Saturday, where investigators executed a warrant and arrested a 25-year-old Narre Warren man and a 17-year-old boy, both from the local Casey area. The man was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and bailed to appear in Dandenong Court on April 30, while the teenager was released without charge pending further inquiries.
Police confirmed their investigation remains ongoing as they seek to locate and identify the third offender involved in the inner-east crime spree.
In another early Saturday morning incident in Melbourne's northeast, two 17-year-old boys allegedly attempted to break into three Viewbank homes in less than 90 minutes. The teens allegedly targeted properties on Duff Parade around 3.25am, Graham Road at 5am and Kambea Crescent approximately 5.40am.
Police, assisted by the Dog Squad, apprehended the two teens on Martins Lane in Viewbank. One boy was charged with three counts of attempted aggravated burglary and criminal damage and bailed to appear at a children's court, while the second teen was interviewed by police and released but is expected to be charged on summons.
These coordinated incidents across multiple Melbourne suburbs highlight an escalating pattern of youth crime that has left residents concerned for their safety and authorities working to restore community security.
