Rise of the eshays: Wannabe teen gangsters preying on kids in Adelaide
Police are boosting city patrols amid a surge in youth crime that Adelaide teens blame on “eshays” – wannabe gangsters with a signature fashion style who carry knives, deal drugs and rob other youths, then brag about it on social media.
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Wannabe teen gangsters who call themselves “eshays” are carrying knives, dealing drugs and routinely threatening and stealing from other youths around Adelaide.
Teenagers have told The Advertiser that eshays are aged 14-19, are mostly boys, and wear branded clothing, bum bags, and Nike 97 Air Maxes or Nike TN shoes.
They say parents and teachers need to be aware of eshays because they target people with intimidation and threats, stealing phones, wallets, watches, wireless headphones and clothing.
Police say they are boosting patrols in Rundle Mall in response to youths harassing shoppers and store staff, but they do not classify offenders into subcultures.
A video shared on Facebook last month shows two teenagers angrily yelling at each across an Adelaide CBD street. One is holding a machete and the other a smaller knife, before a passing man intervenes and forces the boy to drop his knife.
A girl, 13, from Adelaide’s inner north, who wished to remain anonymous because she feared retribution, said eshays could be easily spotted around the CBD and suburban shopping strips because of their attire.
Some were dangerous and some were not, she said.
“There are the ones who (just) dress like eshays and there are the proper ones who smoke, deal and take drugs, carry knives, steal and don’t go to school. You can’t tell the difference between them,” she said.
“I make the effort to stay away from them but if I was alone and next to them I’d be pretty scared.”
An eastern suburbs boy, 15, said eshays hid knives in their underwear so police would not find their weapons if searched, and promoted their dealing of marijuana, MDMA and cocaine on social media.
He said he was afraid to wear certain clothes in public because he would “get rolled”, meaning robbed, by eshays.
The name eshay is believed to be a pig-latin variation of the term “sesh” – a cannabis-smoking session.
An SA Police spokesman said Eastern Adelaide Police were aware of problems in Rundle Mall and other areas where youths gathered.
“Local patrols have been briefed and are increasing patrols of the area,” he said.
“The youths, some of whom are known to police, harass staff and members of the public then leave before police arrive.
“Police regularly liaise with store owners and security and encourage them to report any encounters with the youths immediately.
“Anyone else who has experienced similar issues is encouraged to report it to police immediately on 131 444.”
Earlier this month, a Parafield Gardens man, 18, was charged with theft and assault after he and a group of others approached a family of four and stole their shoes and a phone at Glenelg.
The parents and their two daughters were walking down Jetty Rd on January 7, about 11pm, when the man attacked them and then ran off.
Teens told The Advertiser that was typical eshay behaviour.
As well as selling drugs, some eshays use social media to sell stolen shoes and clothes. Others post memes.
Some accounts share content from cities across Australia, including Adelaide.
Bond University criminologist and former police officer Terry Goldsworthy said social media influenced the teens.
“What people see on their social media may appeal, and they think that’s an accepted form of behaviour so they try to follow and emulate what they’re seeing,” Dr Goldsworthy said.
“The more exposure, likes and views they get from doing these actions, they will perhaps get more outside the acceptable norms.
“They usually pick their targets in cowardly ways and look for people they can outnumber and people they are physically bigger and stronger than, so it’s a form of very serious bullying.”