Third teen charged over Vic carjacking

A third teenager has been charged over a violent carjacking during which a man was bashed with a hammer in Melbourne.

A 40-year-old man was set upon by youths armed with a hammer after he got out of his car to inspect damage when his Mercedes was nudged from behind by a car in Malvern East on June 21.

Police on Monday said an 18-year-old Hampton Park man was arrested on Thursday and charged with numerous offences including stealing a car, assault and armed robbery.

He was remanded in custody.

A 16-year-old was arrested on the day of the attack and a 17-year-old was charged last week.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Julie-Anne Newman said a rise in aggravated burglaries and carjackings across the state had led to police rolling out a specialised operation in May. More than 60 people had been arrested.

There were 171 carjackings during the 12 months to April 2016, compared with 95 in the previous year.