Officers arrested the 14 suspects on Thursday and Friday in Cranbourne, Pakenham, Dandenong South, Officer, Narre Warren South, Clyde North, Cranbourne North and Doveton. Detective Inspector Shayne Pannell said there were "more people we want to speak to". "The investigation will continue past today and we do expect further arrests early next week," he told media on Friday afternoon. He also indicated more charges would be laid against those already arrested. Police arrested four people on Thursday and 10 on Friday. Credit:Police Media

Victoria Police said its investigators recovered two stolen vehicles: a black Holden Captiva and a Landrover Discovery. Among the other items seized were imitation firearms and a military assault rifle. Detective Inspector Pannell said all the weapons were found in one person's bedroom and that it appeared the imitation firearms were used to strike fear into the hearts of victims. "Just by the nature of the offending and going into peoples homes when they're there is causing fear, unnecessary fear," he said. "The weapons are being used at this stage to enhance that fear." The warrants were executed in relation to a series of alleged incidents in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs between July 26 and August 7.

Three teens have been charged while a fourth was released pending further inquiries. Credit:Victoria Police Among them: an aggravated carjacking in Narre Warren South, an armed robbery at a milk bar in Hallam, an attempted aggravated burglary at a milk bar in Hampton Park, an alleged armed robbery at a service station in Lynbrook and an alleged armed robbery and carjacking in Moorabbin. Some of the victims of those attacks have spoken publicly of their trauma. Kay (who did not use her surname) said she thought she was "going to die" when she had her car violently taken from her in Narre Warren South last month. The 57-year old mother and disability worker had a gun pressed to her head and was pistol-whipped in the face after getting out of her vehicle at night to exchange details with three men who rear-ended her Volkswagen Golf MK7R in an SUV.

In another of the aggravated robberies a man was beaten, robbed and had his car stolen at an ATM in Moorabbin on Tuesday. Detective Inspector Pannell said the offences appeared to be "ad hoc". But while the officer described "a level of organisation" among the groups arrested, he said they were not gangs. "I wouldn't call them a gang, no, they're a collective group of individuals who know each other," he said in response to a question from a reporter. Detective Inspector Pannell said police would now forensically test the seized weapons, examine CCTV footage and continue interrogations as they compiled evidence against the suspects arrested and those still at large.

A group of teenagers were arrested. Credit:Police Media And while he said investigators had already pieced together many parts of the puzzle, one fundamental question loomed unanswered: why? Loading "That's the million dollar question at the moment, right across Melbourne," Detective Inspector Pannell said. "What's driving this type of crime? Certainly I've been a police officer for quite some years and there has been a change in the type of offending."

Four of the arrests came on Thursday morning. Three of the youths have been charged with offences including armed robbery, aggravated carjacking, intentionally cause injury, theft of motor vehicle, possess prohibited weapon, handle stolen goods and unlicensed driving. They include a 17-year-old boy from Cranbourne and a 14-year-old boy from Pakenham, both of whom have been remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date. Also, a 19-year-old man from Officer who has been bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court at a later date. A fourth boy, 17 of Dandenong North, has been released pending further enquiries. Many of the other 10 arrested on Friday morning were living at home with parents. They are being interviewed by police. Detective Inspector Shayne Pannell. Credit: Chris Hopkins Detective Inspector Pannell said the arrests were the result of ongoing work into a number of serious incidents in the south eastern suburbs over the past two weeks.