Fifteen-year-old Olivia Conder has been hailed for her bravery after she called police during an aggravated burglary while she was home alone last week.
Olivia said she was in her family’s Hoppers Crossing house on Wednesday about 12.40pm, studying for exams, when she heard noises at the front door.
She said at first she thought a parcel was being delivered, but she called her mother.
“I said, ‘He’s not delivering a parcel, he won’t go away,’ and Mum said, ‘I’ll be home in five minutes’,” Olivia said.
Olivia then called triple-0, as she saw a car enter the house’s driveway and men allegedly attempting to break into the house.
The men allegedly entered the house and tried to open Olivia’s bedroom door, as she held it shut.
Olivia said police were quick to arrive.
“I’m relieved I didn’t get hurt,” she said.
Olivia and her mother Lee-Anne said they wanted to thank the triple-0 operator and police, “who were amazing”.
Senior Sergeant Aaron Riches praised Olivia’s actions.
“When you reflect on what transpired, you have to give her total credit for remaining composed,” he said.
“She acted in a mature manner and she was able to stay on the phone to the triple-0 operator and was able to give us information which was passed on to the police units, which were on their way to the scene.
“She stood up in a difficult situation and because of her bravery, we were able to make three arrests.”
On Thursday, police announced that three 18-year-old men, from Bundoora, Epping and Brookfield, have been charged with a total of 20 charges – including aggravated home invasion, aggravated intentional exposure of an emergency services worker to risk by driving, conduct endangering life and assault, burglary and theft charges – in relation to the incident.
Two police cars were allegedly rammed after the incident and a police officer was injured.
The three men were remanded to Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday for a filing hearing.
