Chaos at hi-rise party in Spencer St building
LEAKED police reports reveal there was a lack of available police resources to deal with an out-of-control youth party at a short-stay apartment. The CBD residence was trashed and units robbed in the latest in a string of wild parties in Melbourne rentals.
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LEAKED police reports reveal there was a lack of available police resources to deal with an out-of-control youth party in a hi-rise apartment.
The report revealed more than 40 African youths were involved in the highly destructive gathering at the Neo 200 complex in Spencer St.
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The entire apartment was trashed, with holes in the wall, doors ripped off, plates shattered and empty alcohol bottles scattered across the floor, according to the report leaked to 3AW by concerned police officers.
“We attempted to implement the party disruption plan however there was a lack of resources available,” the report read, citing the air wing and dog squad.
It is the second time police were unable to take control over wild mass gatherings of African youths in a fortnight.
Police were significantly understaffed when a brawl involving 200 youths broke out at The Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood last Saturday night.
Outnumbered officers were unable to make arrests, instead prioritising theirs and victims’ safety.’
Premier Daniel Andrews was this morning asked whether he was concerned about a lack of available police resources, as detailed in the leaked reports.
“I have not seen those reports,” he said.
“I would direct you to police command to give you an update on what I think is probably still an ongoing matter,” he said.
Mr Andrews said recent law changes to crackdown on short stay parties would have a “significant impact”.
“Victoria Police is obviously working very hard around these issues as well,” he said.
“The government through its agencies is in contact with Airbnb at that leadership level to try to make sure that every protocol, every change that can be made, every process that can be put in place is indeed there.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Deb Abbott said an independent review would be held into the handling of the Collingwood brawl.
Ms Abbott said both the air wing and dog squad were unavailable as police responded to the Spencer St party.
The youths, aged 17 to 20 and some reportedly armed with knives, were dispersing from the apartment when police arrive.
Police are investigating “strong connections” attendees were responsible for several burglaries within the complex and a robbery nearby.
Ms Abbott said four people were arrested in relation to the robbery.
The Herald Sun understands the youths are also connected to aggravated burglaries of two other apartments in the 37-level building.
Horrified residents were helpless to intervene as the marauding louts wreaked havoc, in the latest of a spate of such incidents in Airbnb houses and flats across the city.
Police were called to the tower at 7am following reports of violence erupting as a party spilled out into common areas of the building.
Officers then discovered the aggravated burglaries. Intruders stole a camera, a telescope, a computer console, laptops and phones from one apartment, and laptops, phones and cash from the other.
The apartment that had been hired for the party was extensively damaged. Personal items were found discarded in a stairwell.
A Victoria Police spokesman said those involved in the bedlam had dispersed by the time officers arrived, and police were not aware of anyone having been injured.
One resident on level eight said he heard the out-of-control gathering about midnight.
“A fire alarm was pulled and police were called,” said the resident, who did not want to be named.
“I heard police and saw a bunch of young guys running on the other side of the street,” the level eight resident said.
Chin Yeo, 36, also on level eight, said he knew of Airbnbs in the tower and often saw “youngsters” about. “There are always parties up here. It tends to get a bit out of hand sometimes,” he said.
A succession of major incidents have occurred at Airbnb properties rented for parties across Melbourne. Last weekend, a reservation in Williamstown was cancelled after a tip-off from police that it was fraudulent. Though locks were changed, intruders later smashed their way in.
Sources say some of those linked to the Williamstown damage were later at the gathering of 200 people at the Gasometer Hotel in Smith St, Collingwood, which descended into violence.
In July, Laa Chol, 19, was murdered at an apartment at the EQ complex hired for a party through Airbnb.
In April, in North Melbourne, thugs threw firewood and rubbish bins at police after an Airbnb party turned ugly. And last December, an Airbnb property in Werribee was trashed and neighbouring homes and cars damaged by hooligans who pelted police with rocks.
New laws passed last month cracking down on short-stay apartments allow for the black-listing of those repeatedly used for wild parties and compensation of up to $2000 for neighbours. Guests can also face fines of up to $1100 for damaging property, creating unreasonable noise, behaving badly, and causing a safety hazard.
Opposition police spokesman Ed O’Donohue said the strife at short-stay properties must be fixed.
DISORDERLY HOUSES
December 6, 2017
An Altona beach rental was trashed during a wild party that caused $150,000 worth of damage.
December 20, 2017
An officer was injured after an out-of-control party at a Werribee rental property attended by gang members.
April 30, 2018
Up to 50 partygoers, mainly of African appearance, trashed a $1.2 million North Melbourne property and pelted police with objects.
May 7, 2018
Revellers threw TVs out the window of a Footscray rental and brawled in the street as police watched.
June 18, 2018
A $1 million Carnegie rental property was trashed and neighbours were threatened after an out-of-control party.
July 1, 2018
Dozens of partygoers, mainly of African appearance, threw a wild event at a Hawthorn East rental property, assaulting an elderly neighbour.
July 21, 2018
A 19-year-old woman was stabbed to death while celebrating with friends in a CBD short-stay apartment.
September 9, 2018
An Airbnb apartment at the Neo 200 in the city was trashed, and neighbouring units were plundered.