Alleged Child Network Leaders Arrested After $2 Million Thefts

Police say they have busted a child network tasked with stealing more than $2 million worth of cash and cigarettes in Melbourne to avoid adults “getting their hands dirty”. Victoria Police on Wednesday evening (May 29) announced the arrests of four men followed a months-long investigation, with children as young as 12 allegedly recruited into the network. The more than 20 children—the eldest of whom was 17—were behind more than 140 cigarette burglaries and armed robberies in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs since January, police allege. The children allegedly targeted service stations, supermarkets and tobacconists to come away with a cumulative haul worth more than $2 million (US$1.33 million)...