Monkey bike hoons’ dangerous antics spark community fears in Patterson Lakes

Residents in this Melbourne suburb say they have been taunted and menaced by reckless hoons, who were captured on video speeding on footpaths and flipping a walker off. WATCH THE VIDEOS

Reckless motorbike hoons are taunting walkers along the busy Patterson Lakes river trail, with neighbours fearing it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt.

Footage sent to Leader by Carrum and Patterson Lakes Forum founder Cameron Howe shows two hoons speeding along the busy trail late last month.

Mr Howe said the issue had spun “out of control” in recent months.

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“There’s been numerous reports of monkey bikes and motorcycles hooning in residential areas. It’s not going to take long before someone is hit and seriously injured,” he said.

He said he had spoken to several other people who feared for their lives.

“An elderly man was knocked over last year and others are fearing that they’re in danger every time they walk along the trail.”

“They (hoons) need their bikes crushed as it will send a clear message to them.”

He said he had also asked for a meeting with Kingston Council on the issue.

Rik Price, who has lived in Patterson Lakes for 13 years, captured footage in January of the dangerous antics of yet another rider on the footpath near the wetlands in Patterson Lakes.

When the hoon realised his antics were being filmed, he stuck up his middle finger at the camera.

“I’m a father of two young children and it worries me that this is going on in our neighbourhoods,” Mr Price said.

A monkey bike hoon sticks his finger up as he rides past.

“I’m also really concerned as there’s several elderly people who walk around this area and I feel that they could be seriously injured by these kids who are flouting the law.”

He said nearby neighbours were regularly sharing footage of the dangerous antics on the Carrum & Patterson Lakes Crime Watch Facebook page.

“It’s an ongoing issue in our community and something needs to be done really soon before someone else gets hurt.”

In 2015, Andrea Lehane, 34, was mowed down by Caleb Jakobsson, 22, who hit her with his homemade motorcycle outside Carrum Downs Shopping Centre.

Chelsea Senior Sergeant Alex Jackson said police were aware of complaints and extra resources would tackle the issue.

“Riding these unregistered bikes can cause severe injuries or even worse, such as the terrible incident that occurred in Carrum Downs,” Sen-Sgt Jackson said.