By PETER DOUGLAS
OCCUPANTS of a vehicle driving along Bond Street, Ferntree Gully, were lucky to escape a late-night carjacking attempt on Monday 18 April.
Would-be thieves were posing as police officers when they stopped the occupants, before allegedly threatening them with a firearm and demanding their car keys.
Media outlets have reported the carjackers couldn’t start the vehicle due to an immobiliser being fitted.
The offenders got back into their car and drove from the scene.
Victoria Police said the thieves targeted a further two drivers in the eastern suburbs on the same night.
The first incident occurred in Wantirna South at 10.40pm, with the third in South Yarra at 11pm where a black Audi sedan was allegedly stolen.
A dark-coloured station wagon with red and blue flashing lights was used in all three incidents.
A Craigieburn man, 25, a Moonee Ponds man, 29, and a Deer Park man, 32, have been charged with numerous offences, including armed robbery, impersonating police, firearm offences, theft of motor car, robbery, possessing ice and evading police.
The three men were remanded in custody and were set to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.