By Afraa Kori
After being robbed in December and again just days ago, a Beaconsfield family fought back, only to be held at knifepoint until police arrived.
The father caught the thief red-handed allegedly trying to steal his son’s bike from the garage last Friday, 21 March.
“He bolted out of my garage and I chased him (the perpetrator) to the road yelling at him,” the father explained.
“My wife and daughter came out after hearing me yell and chased him in the car. They found him, and when my daughter accused him of trying to rob us, he pulled out a knife and threatened them.”
“Pakenham police attended – four cars plus a K-9 unit. The perpetrator was tracked and apprehended within 45 minutes.”
While chasing the perpetrator, the wife and daughter saw two women, likely out for a walk, and quickly warned them before continuing their search.
“My friend and I were walking back from Akoonah night market at 8.30 pm. A car pulled up beside us and the driver called out to warn us to get inside immediately and lock the doors,” Lucy said.
“She said there was a guy running around with a knife and he had tried to rob them. No further details were given.”
“We could tell by the sense of urgency that we should take it seriously. We immediately went inside my friend’s home as it was nearby.”
After receiving the warning, Lucy felt it was important to alert the Beaconsfield community group on social media. Based on the comments, she was told that police had been seen with spotlights at the front of the estate.
Police charged a youth following an alleged aggravated burglary in Beaconsfield on Friday, 21 March.
It is alleged the boy entered the garage of a premises on Lakeview Terrace about 8.40pm.
An occupant confronted the teen before he fled the scene on foot with a stolen packet of cigarettes.
Two occupants followed the male and when they approached him, he allegedly produced a knife.
No one was injured during the incident.
An 18-year-old Pakenham boy was arrested nearby on Domain Circuit.
He was charged with assault with a weapon and aggravated burglary and remanded into custody to appear at the Dandenong Magistrate’s Court on 24 March.
The Beaconsfield family revealed that their daughter is deeply traumatized and may take longer to heal, but they are determined to move forward with their lives.
For Lucy, this incident certainly does highlight that times have “changed” in her beautiful estate.
“I have lived here for over 20 years and it has always been a very quiet , safe neighbourhood. I never had concerns about walking in the area.
“I have seen an increase in cameras on homes over the past 12 months and there have been numerous posts online about car and house break ins and car thefts in the area.
“I think the change of the bail laws is a positive start. I know I am not alone in thinking that there still needs to be more done to address why we are seeing such an increase in youth crime.
“They need to focus on providing alternatives to choosing this destructive path. They need to improve education to engage youth more and increase employment opportunities. Consequences are definitely necessary but there also need to be rehabilitation processes in place to break the cycle.”
Local MP and Leader of the Opposition Brad Battin confirms that the “Beaconsfield incident highlights the urgent need for stronger youth crime and weapons laws”.
“The Liberals and Nationals support tougher bail laws to keep dangerous offenders off the streets, but at the same time, there needs to be a strategy for working with young people, giving them opportunities to stay out of the justice system,” he said.
“The focus must be on locking up those who pose a real threat—not criminalising minor offences. The current system isn’t deterring repeat offenders, and further reforms are needed to ensure real accountability.
“To those feeling fearful, and to the victim’s family—our thoughts are with you. No one should feel unsafe in their own home or community.”
