By Simone Fox Koob, The Age
A woman was punched in the face and threatened with a machete during a violent home invasion in Tarneit.
The victim arrived home at 8.20pm on Friday night and parked her car in the garage when the four young offenders, described by police as African in appearance, followed her inside.
The youths then ransacked her home, located on Habitat Court in Tarneit, before producing a machete and punching the 34-year-old woman in the face. They then threatened her and demanded she hand over her vehicle.
One male took off in the car, while the other three fled on foot.
Her car, a black Hyundai Elantra sedan with registration ART775, hasn’t been found. Images of a similar vehicle have been released.
A resident of Habitat Court, Sharon, told The Age she was at home on Friday evening when she heard screaming out on the street.
“I was laying on my bed when I heard a lady screaming, but I thought it was the kids next door… then I looked out the window and saw her trying to stop the car and then I thought, oh no,” she said.
“She asked for help so at this stage I ran out and another neighbour ran out.”
Sharon said she saw the driver speed away down the street as the car owner frantically tried to stop him escaping.
“She was stressed out and when I asked her what was going on she went back inside and said called triple zero. She was all stressed.”
Sharon said the woman lives alone.
“They punched her in the face then apparently they had a machete,” she said.
“It’s normally very quiet and this is just really weird.
“It’s terrible. I’ve lived here eight years and I’ve never had a problem before. It’s a really quiet court, now I’m going outside and looking around, I don’t go out at night.”
She said the incident had made her worried for the safety of family including her 18-year-old daughter, who works late shifts nearby.
“It could have been anyone of us coming home at time. It was quite early,” she said.
The incident will be investigated by detectives from Taskforce Wayward, a program in the city’s west that is targeting youth offenders.
In May, Victoria Police said the taskforce was monitoring 64 young people linked to home invasions or aggravated burglaries, tracking them at home and school to keep them out of trouble. Not all of those monitored by police are on the street, some are in jail, and the number of youths monitored fluctuates.
The pilot program operates in Maribyrnong, which includes Footscray, as well as Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Brimbank and Melton.
Anyone with information or who sees the car is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
