Airbnb party in Box Hill North leads to fight on Ashley St, police called
A brawl involving up to 80 youths spilled from an out-of-control Airbnb party into surrounding Box Hill North streets, with neighbours forced to hide in their homes as unruly revellers fought and screamed abuse outside.
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A brawl involving up to 80 youths erupted in the streets of Box Hill North in the early hours of Sunday after they gathered for a party at an AirBnb.
Dozens of alarmed residents woke to the sounds of fighting and partygoers screaming abuse at the police trying to disperse the crowd.
Police arrived in force to Ashley St, Box Hill North early on Sunday, November 17 after a brawl broke out in front of a house where a party was being held.
Victoria Police spokeswoman woman Nikki Ladgrove said police shut down the party about 6am and moved up to 80 youths from the area, arresting one female for not providing proof of identity.
“The house sustained major internal damage and police are investigating whether items were stolen,” she said.
She said no injuries were reported from the brawl.
Neighbours, who described the youths as African in appearance, stayed in their houses in fear as the youths, followed by police, swarmed throughout surrounding streets.
An Alberta Ave resident, who didn’t want to be named, said her family was woken to the sound of people hurling “abusive language” at police after 6am.
She said she saw police walking in a line, almost shoulder to shoulder, shepherding a group of about 25 young people, who stood screaming profanities at them.
“It’s alarming,” she said.
“Any group of people demonstrating that disrespect for police is confronting.”
Others took to Facebook to report police dealing with commotion in their streets, saying they saw police vehicles across several streets, as well as a circling helicopter.
Sophia, who did not want her surname published, said her parents saw four policeman with 12 youths lined up along a fence about 6.30am.
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Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she was awake for hours after calling police about the noise about 4am.
Some residents reported youths hiding in their driveways and sitting on cars.
Police horses were seen patrolling the suburb throughout the rest of the day.
Box Hill North’s Cafe Rubix manager Daniel Daley was one of several people who said when he asked police why the mounted patrol was in the area, they said it was to make the community feel calm after the incident.
The brawl comes after an out-of-control mob of youths caused chaos in Mont Albert North in September when a party at an Airbnb property turned wild.
An AirBnb spokesman said the company had zero tolerance for the bad behaviour, having removed the person who hired the house from its platform.
“The reported behaviour is utterly unacceptable and violates everything our community stands for,” he said.
He said the company would assist Victoria Police and the host in dealing with the incident.