Outlaw teen gangs battle for crime kudos on Instagram

Outlaw teen gangs taunting Cairns police on social media are upping the ante by actively encouraging rivals to share videos and photos of criminal activity through anonymous Instagram accounts.

OUTLAW teen gangs taunting Cairns police on social media are upping the ante by actively encouraging rivals to share videos and photos of criminal activity through anonymous Instagram accounts.

Playing a dangerous game of one-upmanship against Townsville-based offenders most Cairns delinquents use private Instagram groups to boast about illegal activity and share criminal tactics.

Bragging about stealing cars, posting photos of items stolen from houses and sharing of illicit drug use has become commonplace.

Hiding behind online identities such as cairns_crime_4870 and 4u.cns.crimes.2c, page creators taunt authorities by plastering f**k da police with the zipped mouth and middle finger emoji in their bio information.

Videos posted to Instagram reveal one stolen car travelling at 180km/h, driving on the wrong side of the road and doing burnouts, while other accounts show posing in front of stolen cars, smoking bongs and faces hidden by wads of cash.

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When quizzed about the north Queensland rivalry teens in the Cairns CBD were cavalier about their alleged exploits.

“There’s competition between CNS boys and TSV boys for stealing cars,” one youth said.

“I was in a car last night and I get another tonight.

“Watch you reckon bala, smack these for fun G.”

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed the monitoring of social media accounts which provided valuable intelligence and could be used as evidence in court.

“Brazen offenders who post about their exploits on social media increase their likelihood of being caught and brought to justice,” he said.

A leader of a Cairns-based youth service, who asked not to be named, said when on remand or if handed a custodial sentence local offenders ended up at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville.

“They end up with a group of people all locked up together which can criminalise some young people when they are in detention together,” she said.

“Social media use is definitely spurring activity and they are having a lot of fun running away from the police helicopter.

“If you have had a traumatic upbringing and there’s nothing safe to ground you, then that can look appealing.

“And if your family have not been good to you (the gang) can become your family.”

Launched last month a new multi-agency Youth Justice Task Force aims to target these hardcore offenders.

“This task force is targeting the 10 per cent of all youth offenders who account for 48 per cent of all youth crime in Queensland,” the police spokesman said.

“With more traditional measures focusing on the other 90 per cent.

“Police regularly see the negative personal outcomes for people drawn into criminal activity, and officers combat the risks posed by organised crime on a daily basis.”

A total of 66 vehicles have been stolen this month to make a total of 339 for the calendar year.

In 2020 a total of 542 vehicles were stolen, a reduction of the 659 stolen in 2019.

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Originally published as Outlaw teen gangs battle for crime kudos on Instagram