A gelateria that opened in early 2025 on Wool Street in Tarneit lies in ruins this Friday morning, its entry door smashed inward, its ice cream counter obliterated, and its front window blown clean out by the force of an interior explosion.
Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at a shop on Wool Street about 2:30am. Fire crews extinguished the blaze at the unoccupied premises, which sustained significant damage. The business owner, watching events unfold via CCTV from a distance, called his brother as flames consumed what he had built.
CCTV footage shows intruders inside the premises lighting an accelerant, with the force of the ignition blowing out the front window. Investigators were told up to three offenders fled in a Toyota Landcruiser, which was later located dumped at the intersection of Dohertys and Mount Cottrell roads in Mount Cottrell.
Following a thorough search of the area by general duties officers, the Critical Incident Response Team, Dog Squad and Air Wing, two males were taken into custody about 5am. Both are 17-year-old boys from Greater Dandenong.
During the arrest, one of the teenagers was bitten by a police dog. One of the males, a 17-year-old boy from the Greater Dandenong area is expected to be transported to hospital after being bitten by a police dog. He was treated for injuries and taken to Sunshine Hospital in stable condition.
A crime scene has been established and an arson chemist is expected to attend the fire later this morning. The investigation remains ongoing.
Both teenagers have been charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage by fire, conduct endangering life or serious injury, theft of motor vehicle and possess articles to destroy. One teen will be directly presented to a children's court, while the other will have a bedside remand hearing.