An 18-year-old, along with four others, has been apprehended and charged in connection with a series of armed robberies and home invasions that have occurred in Melbourne’s southeastern neighborhoods.

Authorities detained the young man in Highett last week. He now faces charges of armed robbery and unlawful assault following an incident involving a delivery driver in Brighton on Christmas Day.

In a bid to aid in their rehabilitation, the teenager, alongside another young offender, was recently taken on a trip to the Gold Coast. The excursion included visits to theme parks and sightseeing opportunities.

Reports indicate that these teenagers had previously been convicted of violent home invasions and carjackings, but they did not receive prison sentences.

The trip was sanctioned by Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety, which adjusted their community corrections orders to permit travel to Queensland.

The National Disability and Insurance Agency is understood to have funded the trip, which sparked anger.

“We see that youth offenders don’t think there’s consequences for their actions. Why would they?” Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said.

“How does that stack up? How does that say their actions are not acceptable? It’s not how our justice system should operate.”