A pair of teenagers have terrified shoppers after they ran through a shopping centre allegedly pointing imitation firearms.
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A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were arrested at the shopping centre in Somerville, between Frankston and Hastings on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, after 10.40am on February 6.
A photo has emerged of a teenager pointing an imitation gun at a mother and her child leaving Target.
Police believe the guns were stolen from a store inside the shopping centre on Eramosa Road.
Officers were on the scene quickly after receiving reports that the teenagers were moving around the complex pointing the guns at shoppers.
The teens were charged with possessing an imitation firearm, affray and theft.
They were bailed to appear before a children's court at a later date, police said.
A 13-year-old boy was released without charges.
Support is available for those who may be distressed:
Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; 13 Yarn 13 92 76; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
