Melbourne youth gangs continue to run amok despite stage 4 restrictions
Violent youth gangs are once again running riot at Fountain Gate and other areas in Melbourne’s southeast blatantly flouting stage 4 restrictions. It comes as teens continue terrorising housing estates to steal cars and take part in home invasions.
South East
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Youth gangs are once again running amok in Melbourne’s southeast, with brawls and theft taking place at one of the state’s most crime-riddled shopping centres.
The Leader can reveal shocking footage and images have emerged, believed to have been captured during stage 4 restrictions, of youth gangs brawling at Harmony Square in Dandenong and stealing phones at Westfield Fountain Gate.
It comes after Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent said last month police were targeting 42 streets gangs, many of which have began committing crime sprees in regional Victoria.
In one brazen daylight theft, a teen is shown pointing his phone camera to two youths at the Fountain Gate bus stop on Snapchat, with the caption saying: “Went to go buy tuffies in Cranny, ended up at FG drilling three geezers.”
The video then shows the youth holding one of the teen’s phones, who was believed to be involved in the attack, with the caption saying: “Worth it mum’s life”, suggesting he has stolen it.
In another video, two youths are seen laying punches outside the Greater Dandenong Council building, with one of the youths falling to ground moments after he is punched in the head.
In other shocking images sent to Leader, a youth is seen posing with a knife, with the caption saying: “Where I’m from you play it safe and end up dead.”
One source told Leader the youths were continuing to run amok in housing estates across Cranbourne, Clyde North and Pakenham.
“They don’t care about restrictions, they are still out terrorising these estates including stealing cars and they’re involved in home invasions,” the source said.
“I know for a fact a lot of these youths are getting out of prison and straight back into crime.”
Other images also to Leader show teens, believed to be from the 710 gang, posing in front of a luxury car with the caption saying: “Stretch gang forever my hittas take you out.”
In another image taken last week, another group of teens, also posing in front of a luxury car, are seen drinking alcohol and failing to wear masks.
Other images also show a teen holding up a bag of marijuana, with another two bags of drugs beside him.
Detective Acting Inspector David Cox said police last month commenced Operation Alliance in an effort to prevent, disrupt and dismantle street gangs across the state.
“The operation commenced in Melbourne’s southeast on September 27 and involves resources from Crime Command, Southern Metro Crime Team, SMR Crime Investigation Units, Frontline Tactical Unit, Public Order Response Team and Dog Squad,” Acting Insp Cox said.
He said as restrictions started to ease, police would have a highly visible presence in the southeast as part of Operation Alliance, with a focus on the Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia areas.
“Over the past few months, we’ve seen patterns emerge in criminal behaviour which show increases in a number of specific offences when restrictions are lifted or reduced.
“This is predominantly offences that are linked to more people being out and about in the community and able to move freely across suburbs, such as opportunistic street and armed robberies.”
Acting Insp Cox said many of these crimes were linked to street gangs and other organised criminal groups.
“Our intelligence has helped us identify the key figures within these groups and these are the people who we’ll be focused on as part of Operation Alliance as police work to ensure that we don’t see an increase in the number of high harm, high impact offences committed in the Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia communities.”
Fountain Gate has been contacted for comment.
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