The Beirut Run: Logan teens catch train to Gold Coast to commit robbery, violence

Police are calling it “the Beirut run” - Logan teens armed with knives, catching trains down to the Gold Coast to run wild.

TEENAGERS armed with knives are heading south from Logan and Beenleigh on what police refer to as “the Beirut run” heavy rail line.

In the past the young crims would have had a joyride in a stolen sedan. Today their return trip to the Glitter Strip on tram and train is subsidised by the taxpayer.

Police at Helensvale Station. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“They don’t need to steal a car anymore,” a police source says. “They just hop on board the rattler.”

The youths wear hoodies but are not members of any gang. They select a soft target on a train, tram or bus – usually a young woman or older couple – and pounce after they disembark.

Their target is a mobile phone, a wallet and iPads. The knife is enough of a threat.

“They try to get a lot of the good stuff you don’t see up at Logan,” the police source says.

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The alleged stabbing of 17-year-old Parkwood student Jack Beasley in Surfers Paradise on Friday night, after a brawl between two groups, has put the focus on security of the Coast’s expanding public transport system.

Chef Zac Saimoun, who went to Jack’s aid, later speculated that the youths involved in the fight “probably jumped on the tram back to Brisbane”.

“The cops told me that they have a heap of trouble with kids coming down from Brisbane,” the chef said.

Police on-board light rail. Picture: Scott Fletcher.

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Police agree that teenagers from Logan and Beenleigh are causing havoc, courtesy of improved transport connections. “The light rail is allowing the crooks to be transients,” a police source said.

“They don’t pay for any of the transport. They come down, belt people and rob their mobile phones. You take your life in your hands (at certain times) on the Logan to Gold Coast line. They call it the Beirut run.”

Police are increasing security, but they admit they cannot be everywhere. The teenage crime wave is not isolated to the Coast with similar assaults occurring on the Ipswich and Goodna line, at Morayfield in Brisbane’s north.

“It’s one thing to be providing these trains and trams. But you need security. These kids get on to the Logan-to-Brisbane line during the working week. As soon the school holidays start, you start seeing the same problems on the line going south to the Gold Coast,” the police source said.

Police data for the past 12 months shows 501 offences around the Helensvale station and shopping precinct, including 16 assaults, and 529 around the Coomera station and its shopping area, including 11 assaults.

Police conducting Operation Romeo Luminous targeting anti-social or criminal behaviour across public transport areas. Picture: Jerad Williams

Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon said the upsurge in crime should not be blamed on Coast youths.

“It isn’t the local youths,” he said. “If it was local youth, there would be more of uproar locally.”

He said residents had complained to his electorate office more about the lack of parking than rail-line crime.

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“There’s been an uptick, in that there’s been heaps of violence. Police are not describing it as an epidemic. They’ve certainly beefed up (resourcing), they’re tuned it, they’re alert to it, that this is the type of thing that can change very badly, and very, very quickly.”

“The police are saying to me that ‘we’re on to it’. It’s up the priority order. The security at the stations are generally pretty good.”

Police officers walking the beat in Cavil Avenue. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor remained confident about the new police hub due to open at Arundel improving transport security.

But he has had feedback from residents at Parkwood that youths are getting off at the local light rail station and raiding homes before returning to the trams.

“The thing is there is better connectivity between public transport connections,” Mr O’Connor said. “It is really bad (the amount of violent attacks).”

“It makes it a scary place. And it deters people from using public transport. They are coming from Logan and Beenleigh and getting to the Coast within an hour.”

The Bulletin asked the Government what safety initiatives it would consider including use of metal detectors at train and tram stations.

A Palaszczuk Government spokesperson yesterday said: “Jack Beasley’s death over the weekend was a tragedy on so many levels. Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad time. The Palaszczuk Government takes community safety seriously and any strategies to enhance community safety will be considered by Government.”