Teens allegedly attack Dicky Beach IGA owner Shane Kensett outside store
A Sunshine Coast IGA owner has confronted an alleged shoplifter, which led to an alleged group attack that left the man injured.
A business owner has detailed the horrifying moments he was allegedly attacked by a group of teenagers outside his Sunshine Coast store.
Dicky Beach IGA Local Grocer owner Shane Kensett said he was attacked after he kicked out a teenager who was allegedly stealing from the store on Saturday, just before 8pm.
“I’ve kicked him out and he has run off and grabbed these guys and they have cut loose,” Mr Kensett said.
“I ended up in hospital, needing six stitches, it was pretty brutal, one guy had a knife in his hand.”
CCTV from the store front shows Mr Kensett being repeatedly punched and kicked by a group of boys out the front of the IGA.
People walking past the store can then be seen rushing to help Mr Kensett as the group flees.
Mr Kensett said two younger staff members were also at the store at the time of the alleged attack, locking themselves inside.
“They couldn’t get in the shop then, which was good for their safety, but the whole scenario was not pretty,” Mr Kensett said.
Mr Kensett said after working at the store for two and half years he had never seen anything like it.
“I’m just seeing the youth crime escalating at a rapid rate,” Mr Kensett said.
Queensland Police Service spokeswoman confirmed six teenage boys, aged between 14 and 17, had been charged in relation to the incident.
The boys were each charged with committing acts intended to maim and assault occasioning bodily harm in company.
A 16-year-old Glasshouse Mountains boy, a 16-year-old Golden Beach boy and a 17-year-old Burpengary are set to appear in the Maroochydore Children’s Court on Wednesday, August 27.
A 14-year-old Little Mountain boy, a 15-year-old Battery Hill boy and a 16-year-old Caloundra West boy were refused police bail and expected to appear in the Maroochydore Children’s Court on Monday, August 25.
