Kids watch on as hoons terrorise Arundel businesses
Hoons are using encrypted messaging apps to organise large scale meet-ups in Gold Coast industrial precincts, as business owners fear attacks if they speak out. SEE THE VIDEO
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Hoons are using encrypted messaging apps like Snapchat to organise large meet-ups of up to 100 cars in Gold Coast industrial precincts.
The revheads have terrorised Arundel businesses, escalating their criminal activities over the past six weeks from burnouts, to now stealing tyres and damaging property.
Fearful staff members have demanded action from police, saying their complaints have been ignored for months.
The regular meet-ups have even sparked fears of an explosion risk after the hoons recently started tampering with fuel bowsers and doing burnouts close to large diesel storage tanks.
One Arundel business captured hours of security camera footage showing dozens of hoons and spectators – including adults with small children – watching the chaos unfold.
The footage showed cars doing burnouts, people stealing signs, business property being smashed and rubbish and empty beer bottles tossed.
The business which captured the footage asked not to be named over fear of future attacks, but have passed the evidence onto police.
Staff members said their main concern was the potential explosion risk.
“They are close to the (fuel) bowsers, doing wheelies near the bowsers and smoking near the bowsers,” one said.
“If they break-in, spread the petrol and someone with a cigarette (flicks it) without thinking - we don’t know what will happen.
“It has escalated over the past six weeks and it has got to this stage where they are breaking windscreens.”
Another staff member said the regular meet-ups were constantly reported to police, with no action taken.
“We have gone through all the channels and nothing has happened,” they said.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor said Arundel businesses were being terrorised worse than ever by the hoons.
“There were so many hoons here last weekend they had traffic jams as they left,” Mr O’Connor said.
“These businesses are too scared to even say who they are, but are desperate for more to be done.
“I’ve spoken to the police about this so I’m hopeful they’ll focus on this area to get the hoons out.”
But Gold Coast police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said police had cracked down through anti-hooning operation Tango Vinyl.
Supt Wildman said a number of separate groups had organised hoon meet-ups throughout southeast Queensland and used encrypted messaging apps to communicate with each other.
“Operation Tango Vinyl is fully in place and we’re very much addressing these issues with highway patrol officers and rapid action patrol officers back from the border operation and other Covid duties,” he said.
“The issues around Arundel and other industrial sites will be a focus for police going forward into 2022.”
Supt Wildman said police were prepared to tackle a resurgence in hooning activity that had occurred since Covid lockdowns lifted.
He warned police would focus on not only organisers, but spectators as well.
“We can’t be everywhere all the time and we’re very much reliant on community support,” Supt Wildman said.
“Anyone who has dashcam, CCTV or other footage should to make a report by calling Policelink or online through Policelink where anyone can upload footage through that portal.”
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