A group of four teenagers have been charged over a series of home invasions and a kidnapping linked to Melbourne's Apex gang.

Detectives arrested the three men and a boy on Thursday afternoon after they allegedly carried out four burglaries in nine hours in Mitcham, Blackburn, Park Orchards, Officer and Clayton in Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs.

Police say three people were robbed at Arnott Street in Clayton by five offenders about 12.20am on Thursday.

A group of four teenagers were charged over home invasions and a kidnapping linked to Melbourne's Apex gang. It comes after the arrest of a 19-year-old man (pictured)

A Ford sedan was then allegedly stolen from a home at Fairwood Rise in Officer during an attempted aggravated burglary about 6.30am.

A series of aggravated burglaries were also carried out at Alva Avenue in Park Orchards at 7.55am and then Almondsbury Court, Blackburn about 9.50am.

In the Park Orchards incident, a man was forced to drive to an ATM and withdraw cash for the teenagers, police say.

A laptop and other items were allegedly taken from an unlocked garage at a home in Creek Road, Mitcham just after 9am.

Residents were home during the time of three of the burglaries.

As police part of Operation Cosmas arrested the men and the boy, three schools in Wantirna were placed in lockdown, with children told to stay inside for about two hours.

The court heard Mahmoud Taha, 19, had taken the stolen jewellery to be valued and met up with the teenagers beforehand to provide them with Target clothes for the heist

Taha, who police say mentored two young Apex gang members, was also charged with a third armed robbery outside a Broadmeadows bank in May

Police claim Mahmoud Taha supplied the boys with 'tools' for the heist and met up with them afterwards at Caroline Springs shopping centre (pictured)

The three 18-year-old men - from Frankston, Pakenham and Dandenong North - have been remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

They were charged with kidnapping, aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, robbery and other offences.

A 16-year old Springvale South boy has also been remanded in custody to appear at a children’s court at a later date also charged with kidnapping, aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, robbery and other offences.

It comes after police arrested a 19-year-old organised crime figure who mentored two teenage Apex members on how to commit jewellery raids.

On July 7, the 17-year-olds armed themselves with sledgehammers and raided two jewellery stores on Russell St and Sydney Rd in Coburg, Melbourne's north, making away with $200,000 worth of goods.

Police claim Mahmoud Taha supplied the boys with 'tools' for the heist and met up with them afterwards to ask if they got 'the stuff,' the Herald Sun reported.

Taha was charged with both robberies.

Last month Daily Mail Australia spoke to one of the founders of the Apex gang who said the group started in Dandenong

John said the gang met up frequently as a way to escape their boring lives

The court heard Taha had taken the stolen jewellery to be valued and met up with the teenagers beforehand to provide them with Target clothes for the heist.

The 17-year-olds were arrested after being held down by a member of the public who stepped in following the robbery.

The pair were charged with armed robbery and criminal damage and fronted the Children's Court in Melbourne.

They were denied bail.

Taha was also charged with a third armed robbery outside a Broadmeadows bank in May.

Last month Daily Mail Australia spoke to one of the founders of the Apex gang who said the group started in Dandenong.

John said the gang met up frequently as a way to escape their boring lives.

'We go out together for thrills - it's our chance not to give a f***,' he said.