Teens in Weeroona College Bendigo uniforms vandalise Tomlins Simmie & CO Flour Mill

Students in a Bendigo high school uniform have been filmed vandalising a heritage-listed flour mill as residents call for Jacinta Allan to address the out of control youth crime in her own backyard.

A fed up Bendigo business owner is urging Premier Jacinta Allan to implement mandatory sentencing for youth criminals, as “fearless” high school students continue to wreak havoc in her own electorate.

New videos have emerged showing boys dressed in Weeroona College uniform attempting to break into the heritage listed Tomlins Simmie & Co Flour Mill on Charleston Rd, last month.

Two of the male students are observed inspecting the door, before a third boy – wearing a high-vis vest and hard hat – tries to kick it in.

“What are they keeping in there,” one of the boys said.

Another responded: “they just don’t want us to go in”.

Students from Weeroona College have been filmed vandalising heritage-listed Tomlins Simmie & CO Flour Mill in Bendigo. Picture: Supplied.

After failing to open the door, the boys go around to the back of the building with a shovel and a broom in an attempt to break the glass windows.

The attempted break-in is among a string of incidents to occur in Bendigo involving students from Weeroona College.

A business owner familiar with the site said surveillance cameras and flood lights had had to be installed to protect the heritage-listed flour mill from vandals, with footage capturing youths brandishing brooms, shovels, crowbars, metal poles and knives as they tried to break into the building.

Students in a Bendigo high school uniform have been filmed vandalising a heritage-listed flour mill. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s just ridiculous how they’re left to go free rein. I’ve had the police at that site more than a dozen times in the past two months and nothing ever happens,” she said.

“They’re smashing away at 115 year old doors, dinting them and making them all split.

“They throw stones at the windows – you can see the damage they have done. Two years ago the building was perfect and not a broken window on it.”

The incident comes after the Herald Sun revealed shocking footage of a mob of teens in the school’s uniform kicking a girl in a vicious gang bashing.

About a dozen teenagers were observed filming and cheering on two girls in a fight, before one of the girls was tackled to the ground, where she was stomped on, kicked and hit by three other students.

The incident occurred over a year ago and has since been dealt with.

Students from Weeroona College have been filmed vandalising heritage-listed Tomlins Simmie & CO Flour Mill in Bendigo. Picture: Supplied.

Weeroona College principal Jason Bysouth described such incidents as “very rare” and said they did “not reflect the safe and supportive culture” at the school.

A Department of Education spokesman added any form of violence was “entirely unacceptable”.

Frustrated Bendigo residents have called on the state government and community leaders to do better, fearing if such “disturbing” behaviour goes “unchecked”, it will only get worse.

One business owner told the Herald Sun there was “too much emphasis” on youths’ feelings, and not enough being done to discipline them.

“These kids are committing adult crimes against tax paying citizens who are doing the right thing,” she said.

“We want them taken away so they don’t harm us and our children. Use our taxes to lock them up and rehab them.

“We need there to be mandatory sentencing, so if they’re out on the street and have a knife or have stolen something, they are punished.”

Police were contacted for information about the incident.

A Heritage Victoria spokesman said vandalism and graffiti at heritage-listed sites would not be tolerated.

“We encourage the owner to report the incident to Victoria Police to identify those responsible,” he said.

“There are tough penalties for people who damage state-listed heritage places, including fines of up to $948,432.”