Security beefed up at Smithfield Shopping Centre as gang attacks girls

Beefed up security measures have been implemented at a northern beaches shopping precinct following a spate of incidents in which young girls have reportedly been targeted by a violent group of armed teens.

Heightened security measures have been implemented at Smithfield Shopping Centre following reports a violent gang of teens has been targeting young girls in the area.

Beefed up security measures have been implemented at a northern beaches shopping precinct following a spate of incidents in which young girls have reportedly been targeted by a violent group of armed teens.

Police are currently investigating at least one serious attack on a mum and three children which occurred at Smithfield on Saturday afternoon.

The mother, who asked not to be named, said her 13-year-old daughter had been eating with friends at McDonalds on Mt Milman Drive when they were initially targeted by the group.

“They started yelling at them, saying ‘what are you looking at’ and threatening them,” she said.

The girls decided to leave the restaurant and headed to the nearby Smithfield Shopping Centre to take refuge, but the group followed.

A teen has chased and attacked a mum and three children by throwing missiles, including a knife, at their car outside Smithfield Shopping Centre.

“(My daughter) phoned me and while I was on my way to pick them up, they went into Woolworths to buy some Easter eggs,” she said.

“The other girls found them and started yelling at them and chased them.

“I was in the carpark just scrolling on my phone and the next thing I knew, the girls jumped into the car, crying and screaming that a girl was chasing them with a knife.”

As she drove out of the carpark, the teen gave chase, first blocking the car with her body before chasing and throwing a soft drink can at it, followed by what appeared to be a purple-handled knife.

The girls captured parts of the attack on their phone and a still image shows the girl hurling a purple object at the moving car.

“These girls were just innocently getting something to eat and buying some Easter eggs and now they are traumatised and terrified,” she said.

“We seriously feared for our lives in the car.

“As parents we just want our kids to be able to enjoy the school holiday with friends and they should be able to visit the shops without being attacked.”

A worker at the centre who wished to remain anonymous said the teens had been loitering in the carpark and behaving antisocially, targeting young girls, asking for money and harassing them.

She said some restaurants in the centre had removed items — including cutlery — from outside tables, to avoid theft.

Extra on-site patrols are part of the enhanced security measures at the shopping centre.

When contacted by the Cairns Post, centre manager Maria Dalziel said the shopping precinct had a strict no-tolerance policy when it came to anti-social behaviour on the property.

“The safety and security of our shoppers and retailers at Smithfield Shopping Centre is paramount,” Ms Dalziel said.

“A zero-tolerance policy for anti-social behaviour is strictly enforced, with all incidents promptly reported to the authorities.

“Enhanced security measures, including additional on-site security patrols, have now been implemented to ensure we protect the safety and security of shoppers and retailers.

“Close collaboration with our retailers and regular communication with the local Smithfield Police Station team are maintained to address any security concerns.

“This collaborative approach aims to create a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed officers were investigating the incident, but no arrests had been made.

“Initial information indicates at around 5.30pm, a group of three teenage girls were approached by another group of teenage girls not known to them (at McDonalds), before they were chased to a nearby shopping centre,” she said.

“The victims have entered a parent’s vehicle, before one of the offenders has thrown an object at the vehicle as it drove away.

“No one was physically injured.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Originally published as Security beefed up at Smithfield Shopping Centre as gang attacks girls