Police Say Children Were ‘Groomed’ and Taught How to Steal
A Hastings man accused of involving local children in burglaries and car thefts across the Mornington Peninsula is now facing 48 charges, with police telling the court he was a “massive driving force” behind a run of local property crime.
Read: Hastings Man Accused of Using Children in Mornington Peninsula Burglaries
Aaron Torpy, 30, appeared by video link in Frankston Magistrates’ Court as police set out the full extent of the allegations. They said they had more than 100 hours of recordings allegedly captured in Torpy’s living room, as well as CCTV from several locations tied to the alleged offending.
The charges include recruiting children as young as 14 to commit break-ins, supplying cannabis to a child and a range of burglary and theft-related offences. Police alleged Torpy “groomed vulnerable children” and taught them how to break into cars, steal vehicles and take part in other dangerous behaviour. One child allegedly suffered burns after trying to set fire to a stolen car.
Police Say There Is ‘No Condition’ That Could Stop Reoffending
Police argued that Torpy should not be released on bail. They told the court he had already been on six separate bail undertakings at the time of the alleged offending and that there was “no condition” that could be put in place to guarantee he would not reoffend.
They described the alleged crimes as having a “significant effect” on victims and said it was “not appropriate” for him to be released, especially considering the involvement of children.
Concerns were also raised over the address proposed for bail. A person living at the property had recently lost their licence after allegedly driving under the influence of drugs, and the individual offering Torpy accommodation failed to attend court and was not available to answer the court’s questions. The magistrate adjourned the matter until next month.
Defence Pushes Back on Police Position
Torpy’s lawyers challenged the strength of the police case and questioned the assumptions behind some of the prosecution’s submissions. They also argued that Torpy would not be able to access treatment programs for drug use if he remained in custody.
Locals Named Him Before Police Released His Identity
When STPL News published its first report, police had not yet released the suspect’s name. Even so, residents on public Facebook pages and local community groups immediately identified Torpy.
Many said they were not shocked by the allegations, with some claiming they had suspected he was involved long before police confirmed the charges. Others described ongoing frustration with local break-ins and thefts and expressed concern that children were allegedly drawn into the offending.
‘If He Gets Bail, What Message Does That Send?’
Community anger has grown quickly since the latest hearing. Across public posts and discussion threads, many residents expressed strong concern about the prospect of Torpy being released on bail.
While the court will make its decision based solely on the law, the community response has been clear: locals fear that granting bail in a case involving these kinds of allegations would undermine public confidence and send the wrong signal at a time when youth crime is a major issue on the Peninsula.
The bail application will return to Frankston Magistrates’ Court in December. Torpy remains in custody until then.
Was anyone from the Somerville Times in court or online for this hearing? Sounds like you are taking other media reports and rewriting them or using AI. Best you take a close look at the contempt laws.