A series of alleged criminal incidents in Melbourne's south-east involving stolen vehicles, collisions, and antisemitic remarks has resulted in charges being laid against three girls, with all charges subsequently withdrawn against one suspect due to her age under Victorian law.
Key Incidents
The following events have been reported by Victoria Police and court documents:
-
Stolen Hyundai Sedan: A black Hyundai sedan, reportedly stolen from a gym in Caulfield, was allegedly used over several days. Its occupants are accused of making antisemitic remarks and throwing eggs at pedestrians in Hampton, Ripponlea, and Caulfield.
-
Brighton Hit-and-Run (March 30): A stolen silver SUV allegedly struck a 45-year-old male cyclist in Brighton. The cyclist sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including a brain bleed, and was taken to hospital.
-
Ripponlea Incident: A stolen car was allegedly driven towards members of the Jewish community in Ripponlea as they crossed a road, causing them to take evasive action.
-
Elwood E-scooter Incident & Police Pursuit: On a Tuesday morning, teenagers in a stolen white Volkswagen Golf allegedly collided with an e-scooter in Elwood. The riders fell, and the e-scooter crashed into a parked vehicle. The stolen Volkswagen was later observed on Beach Road in Black Rock and was involved in a police pursuit across multiple freeways before being stopped.
Arrests and Charges
Three girls were arrested in connection with the incidents:
-
A 13-year-old girl was initially charged with 52 offences, including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, multiple counts of theft, theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, handling stolen goods, and threatening physical harm or property damage on the ground of a protected attribute. She was remanded to appear at a children's court.
-
A 16-year-old girl and another 13-year-old girl were arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle and handling stolen goods. They were bailed to appear at a children's court at a later date.
Withdrawal of Charges
Victoria Police withdrew 109 charges against the 14-year-old girl (aged 13 at the time of the alleged offences) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
A Victoria Police spokesperson stated that the charges were withdrawn because "the police prosecution was unable to rebut the legal presumption that a child aged 13 and under is incapable of committing a criminal offence." This is a legal standard known as doli incapax, which requires the prosecution to prove the child understood their conduct was seriously morally wrong.
The withdrawn charges included reckless conduct endangering serious injury, motor vehicle theft, and burglary.
Government and Political Response
Premier Jacinta Allan criticized the alleged behaviour but declined to comment on the specifics of the case. She cited ongoing government actions on youth crime, including toughened bail laws and the "adult time for violent crime" policy.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny stated she would "do everything to toughen consequences for young offenders" and support the Violence Reduction Unit for early intervention. She declined to confirm whether the doli incapax legal principle would be reformed.
Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick described the situation as "appalling" and said "the justice system is broken." Other Australian states, including New South Wales and Tasmania, have recently considered or implemented changes to doli incapax.
Legal Background
Under Victorian law, children aged 12 or 13 can only be held criminally responsible if the prosecution proves they knew their actions were seriously morally wrong. A previous government promise to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 14 was abandoned in August 2024.
Victoria Police stated that investigations into the series of incidents are ongoing.