Teenagers charged over bag snatches after allegedly targeting lone women

Two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man have been charged after a group of youths allegedly carried out a series of bag snatches.

Police allege the group robbed mostly lone women.

The accused will face court on several charges, but detectives are continuing to investigate the robberies.

Three males have been charged after youths allegedly carried out robberies in Melbourne's south-east targeting mostly lone women.

Two 16-year-olds and an 18-year-old man were arrested as part of an investigation that also involved a number of home invasions, petrol drive-offs and other offences allegedly committed by offenders last week.

Police are investigating the group over 21 incidents.

Police say two cars were stolen from outside a Glen Waverley gym about 5pm on Monday, September 21.

They say those vehicles were driven around Melbourne's bayside and south-eastern suburbs, where mostly women were targeted in a number of robberies last Thursday night.

A 64-year-old woman was dragged by several offenders and had her groceries stolen while waiting at traffic lights outside Chadstone Shopping Centre around 7:45pm.

A short time later, another woman was punched in the face and had her designer purse stolen at the same shopping centre.

Just after 8pm, a woman was shoved to the ground and had her bag stolen on the Princes Highway in Clayton before a woman had her handbag stolen as she left a hairdresser on Bluff Road in Highett.

About 8.40pm, offenders armed with a machete chased a male worker at a convenience store on Bluff Road in Black Rock before stealing cash.

Police are also investigating whether the same group of youths snatched a bag from a 54-year-old woman near the intersection of Bluff and Highett roads in Highett earlier in the day and stole a 74-year-old woman's bag as she walked along Beach Road in Beaumaris a day earlier. 

An 18-year-old from Springvale has been remanded in custody on a series of charges including aggravated burglary, car theft and theft.

One of the 16-year-olds has been released on bail after being charged with car theft and handling stolen goods, while the other remained in custody on a string of charges including aggravated burglary and committing an offence while on bail.

Police say no-one has been charged in some of the robberies, and they continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the incidents or has footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.