Footage has captured the chilling moment a gang of thieves attempted to steal a car with a defenceless family inside, including a two-year-old boy.
Three hooded carjackers descended on the Porsche parked in a driveway off Nicholas Street in Ashburton, in Melbourne’s south-east, at about 6pm on Sunday.
In the terrifying CCTV footage, Chris, 36, and his wife could be seen in their vehicle while their child was strapped in at the back.
Chris’s wife opened the passenger door and was preparing to leave the car when the family spotted the three thieves heading towards them.
In a chilling twist, the criminals are understood to have followed the family home in a stolen Mercedes-Benz and sprung into action when they saw the opportunity.
Chris’s wife closed the passenger door and the 36-year-old father immediately began to drive away while the thieves tried to open the car doors.
‘They were banging on my window, at my window, they could see my child in the back yet they were still trying to take the car,’ Chris told 9News.
Chris reversed out of the driveway and pulled into the street before driving into the stolen Mercedes the thieves had arrived in.
‘I reversed out and they blocked the road and I went straight at them,’ he said.
The father sped off and the offenders fled the scene.
‘It doesn’t feel safe now,’ Chris added.
‘I have literally just had the locksmith leave, checking all our locks.’
Victoria Police have confirmed an investigation is ongoing.
The incident comes after it was revealed home invasion rates in Victoria have more than doubled since 2021.
The Crime Statistics Agency recorded 46.4 aggravated burglary offences per 100,000 people in 2021, but in the year to March, that figure ballooned to 97.9.
Victorians are pushing for new laws that would grant homeowners greater powers to protect their homes.
Castle law, which is also known as the castle doctrine, provides legal protection to UK residents who defend themselves against intruders with ‘reasonable force’.
Outspoken personal trainer Chris Katelaris has urged residents to ‘make a racket’ and help push through the tougher protections.
‘As far as I’m concerned, I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by six,’ he said.
‘If they don’t give you what you need in terms of real self-defence laws, you make a racket.’