Rental property trashed in wild Footscray party
POLICE are hunting two men after swooping and arresting three others over the destruction of a Footscray home in an out-of-control house party.
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POLICE are hunting two men after swooping and arresting three others on Wednesday over the destruction of a Footscray home in an out-of-control house party earlier this month.
More than 100 youths, many of African appearance, smashed windows and hurled TVs at walls, leaving huge holes, as they destroyed the Ryan St rental home on May 6.
The owner had watched helplessly alongside police as the youths trashed her home.
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“Kelly” said that the police had said they were powerless to stop the destruction because the youths had been invited by the “tenants” who had rented the property for the night.
“I was bawling my eyes out. I was just shocked,” she said.
“I don’t know why you’d deliberately go out and vandalise someone’s property.”
Kelly said four doors, every picture frame in the house, both TVs, several windows and walls were damaged.
Police on Wednesday executed warrants at Wollert, Point Cook and Deer Park homes and arrested three men.
A Wollert man, 20, and 18-year-olds from Point Cook and Deer Park were charged with criminal damage and bailed to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 13.
Maribyrnong Crime Investigation Unit detectives are continuing to investigate.
They are appealing for public assistance to identify two other males who they believe may be able to assist their inquiries, and have released images of them.
In less than six months, youths have destroyed rental homes, injured police officers and terrorised neighbours in Altona, Werribee, North Melbourne and Footscray.
Fake personas are used to secure the rentals through Airbnb and Booking.com.
Police are hunting suspects in other out-of-control parties, including a million-dollar property at Altona in December and a North Melbourne party in April 28 at which officers were pelted with objects.
Booking.com renters ‘seemed genuine’
The startled homeowner said the people who had rented out the property seemed genuine and claimed to be from Adelaide.
The house had been rented through Booking.com and everything seemed normal until more and more people arrived at the party.
“They checked in and said five people were going to stay there. Everything seemed normal,” she said.
“When neighbours called to say people were jumping the fence, that’s when I knew trouble was coming.”
After arriving to see her property overrun with partygoers, Kelly asked police to kick them out.
But police said they couldn’t enter the property.
“I just wanted someone to get in there,” Kelly said.
She said police told her they couldn’t prove there was anything happening inside and it was too dangerous for her to go in herself.
By the time police did act hours later, it was too late. A back fence had been smashed down and partygoers were entering through there.
CCTV cameras placed at the front of the property captured the chaos, including one male partygoer hurling a television onto the street.
“I think they were powerless,” she told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell.
“So I stood out there with the police and we all looked in while I could see my house — basically windows were being smashed, neighbours told me they could hear smashing noises, massive holes in the walls, doors knocked through,” she said.
“The police said they thought nothing was unusual, there was about six police at that time about two in the morning.
“I felt like I was watching my house burn down and the fire department is there and they’re saying ‘sorry it’s against health and safety to go in’ you know what I mean? It was awful. “They said they can’t prove there is anything happening because they have no right to go in. So, we said can we go in? And they said no, you can’t, it’s too dangerous for you to go in.
“We were saying what can we do? We can’t just stand here and watch our house being trashed. And they said there is nothing you can do.”
The owner spent all day yesterday cleaning up, buying new doors and arranging for plaster repairs.
“I thank my lucky stars that I wasn’t hurt, the police weren’t hurt because none of us were safe,” she said.
“Even though this is going to cost me a lot of money and I don’t know how I am going to pay for it ... at least I am not in hospital, no police are in hospital.”
Neighbours in fear, police spat on
Neighbours said police officers were spat on and innocent bystanders verbally abused as the party descended into chaos.
“They started turning up in car loads at about 9pm (on Saturday night),” neighbour Naz Ire said.
“I could hear loud noises of door slamming, glass smashing and people yelling.”
Local Harry said the men appeared to be of African decent.
“They were swearing at police and seemed to be looking for a fight,” he said.
“One of the police officers had to capsicum spray them.”
Worried residents phoned police several times throughout the night as concern grew.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Ms Ire added.
“They were jumping on a neighbour’s car and throwing glass bottles,” Ms Ire said.
Police managed to disperse the large party about 8am Sunday morning.
A resident who lives nearby told 3AW he noticed many of the partygoers hanging around his home.
“The police did come within about five minutes and told them to move on,” he told Neil Mitchell.
“The police didn’t raise their voices, and the African guys did adhere to what the police said so I’m very thankful.”
A 19-year-old Point Cook man was arrested for drunken behaviour and is assisting police with their inquiries.
No one was injured during the incident and police say the investigation is ongoing.
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