Parents renew calls for CCTV at bus stop dubbed ‘most dangerous’ in Casey
A bus stop opposite Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre — dubbed Casey’s “most dangerous” — has yet again been the scene of a crime, with a group of thugs forcing a 14-year-old to hand over his phone and coat he’d just bought.
South East
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A teenage boy has been left shaken after a group of thugs threatened him and stole his jacket and phone at a bus stop dubbed the “most dangerous” in Casey.
The Lyall St stop, near Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre, has seen a string of violent incidents in recent months.
A Cranbourne father, who asked not to be named, said his 14-year-old son was approached by three youths – described as of Sudanese appearance – on Monday, June 8 at 5.30pm.
The dad said the group demanded his son hand over his phone and a new Kathmandu jacket that he had purchased hours earlier from Fountain Gate.
“They threatened him and said they would hurt him if he didn’t unlock his phone and hand it over. He also just purchased the $220 jacket, which he bought with his savings,” he said.
“It’s just disgusting, this keeps on happening in this street and around all of Cranbourne, these groups keep getting away with it, they’re cowards.”
The father said his son had been left shaken and anxious after the incident.
“No one deserves to go through this, they need CCTV at this location and around other areas in Cranbourne, enough is enough.”
He said he hadn’t reported the incident to police as he believed no action would be taken.
“There’s no point, these groups of teens keep doing this and they won’t stop. They will get a slap on the wrist and be let out to roam the streets again, there are no tough punishments for them.”
But Cranbourne Police Sergeant Roger Child urged people to come forward and report incidents.
“If we have that information that there are offences occurring there then we’re able to target that area and stop future incidents of this occurring,” Sgt Child said.
In March, one mother told Leader her 12-year-old son had been left terrified after youths approached him on Tuesday, February 25 and demanded his phone.
And in October last year a 13-year-old girl was punched in the back of the head by a gang of older girls who tried to steal her phone and jacket at the bus stop.
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The girl’s mother, April Pearce, who started a change.org petition, calling for the council to install CCTV cameras around the area, said the bus stop was still “plagued with issues”.
On Sunday, a man with a serious heart condition was also savagely attacked at nearby Cranbourne Park shopping centre .
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.