Victoria Police have charged three teenagers after a Southern Metro Region Crime Squad inquiry into alleged youth offending that spanned robberies, armed hold-ups, aggravated break-ins, and petrol drive-offs across Melbourne's south-east.

On Wednesday 30 September, investigators served three search warrants, one at a Springvale address and two more in Greater Dandenong, and took into custody a pair of 16-year-olds plus a man of 18.

Police hunt balaclava-clad youths preying on lone women in Melbourne's south-east

Women walking alone were dragged, struck in the face and knocked to the ground as a group of youths in stolen cars robbed four of them in under half an hour on Thursday night, and detectives are pleading for anyone with footage or information to come forward.

The Springvale 18-year-old faces three aggravated burglary counts and three theft-of-motor-vehicle counts, together with "attempted aggravated burglary, attempted theft, burglary and theft." He remains in custody ahead of a Dandenong Magistrates' Court listing later on Thursday 1 October.

One Greater Dandenong 16-year-old faces twin counts of motor-vehicle theft, twin theft counts and twin handling-stolen-goods counts. Bail was granted, with a children's court date still to be fixed.

The other 16-year-old from the same area faces two aggravated burglary counts and three motor-vehicle theft counts, plus "attempted theft, burglary, theft" and two counts of committing an indictable offence while already on bail. He was also remanded for a children's court listing later on Thursday.

According to the release, several teenagers took two cars beside a Glen Waverley gym at around 5pm on the afternoon of Monday 21 September: "a white 2026 Haval Jolion and a black 2017 Honda Odyssey." Those vehicles were then allegedly used while the group targeted mostly lone women through bayside and south-east suburbs.

Victoria Police have detailed six robbery reports within that cluster. At about 7.45pm on Thursday 24 September, a woman aged 64 at the lights by Chadstone Shopping Centre "was allegedly dragged by several offenders and had her groceries stolen." Soon afterwards, another woman outside the same centre "was allegedly punched in the face and had her designer purse stolen."

Around 8pm, a woman on Clayton's Princes Highway "was allegedly shoved to the ground and had her bag stolen." At about 8.10pm, a woman leaving a Highett hairdresser on Bluff Road allegedly lost her handbag. At about 8.40pm, according to police, the offenders were "loitering at a convenience store on Bluff Road in Black Rock, before allegedly chasing a male staff member with a machete before stealing cash." Police say that worker was not hurt.

Two earlier bag-snatch reports sit in the same geographic pattern. On 23 September, a woman aged 74 walking Beach Road in Beaumaris allegedly had her bag taken. On 24 September, a Highett woman aged 54 walking near where Bluff Road meets Highett Road allegedly had hers taken as well.

Witnesses, or anyone with footage or other leads, can call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or report through www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.