Man charged with western suburbs crime spree

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Police yesterday arrested and charged a 28-year-old man over a week-long crime spree across the western suburbs, including an alleged child stealing incident.

The man of no fixed address was arrested at a property in Ferris Avenue, Deer Park at about 3.30pm on Thursday October 12.

He has been charged with child stealing, three counts of armed robbery, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle and driving whilst disqualified.

All offences are alleged to have occurred between October 6 and 11.

They include:

• Theft of a motor vehicle and child stealing in Altona on October 6. It is alleged that a 7-year-old boy was sitting in the parked vehicle when the man stole it. The child was uninjured and located safely shortly after.

• Theft of a motor vehicle in Taylors Lakes on October 8.

• Armed robberies at fast-food restaurants in Altona Meadows and Deer Park on October 10 and Laverton North on October 11.

The man has been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.