Teen crime in Melbourne: Kids recruited by crime syndicates for violent sprees
OUTLAW bikies, Middle Eastern clans and other crime syndicates are recruiting cleanskin kids and skilling them for violent sprees.
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OUTLAW bikies, Middle Eastern clans and other crime syndicates are recruiting cleanskin kids and skilling them for violent sprees.
Senior police say the crime gangs are recruiting children as young as 12 to steal cars or perform other criminal acts.
The number of vehicles stolen at the hands of children aged 10-17 since 2011 has surged more than 40 per cent.
Superintendent Stuart Bateson, a key member of Victoria Police’s Purana Taskforce during Melbourne’s gangland wars, said career crooks were teaching youngsters sophisticated techniques.
Entrenched gangs were even getting kids to steal guns and training them to dispose of clothes, numberplates and other evidence after committing offences, he said.
Supt Bateson said he was shocked by the rapid progression of many teens into criminality, with some skipping traditional stepping stones — such as shoplifting — and going straight to aggravated burglaries, armed robberies and other serious offences.
Crime Statistics Agency figures show the number of cars stolen by kids soared to 1459 in the year to March — from 1038 in the year to March 2012.
Greater Geelong, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Ballarat and Frankston were hotspots.
Supt Bateson said there seemed to be “more violent offending at a younger age than there has ever been”.
“A 12-year-old driving a stolen car from an aggravated burglary. We hadn’t been seeing that previously,” he said. The level of sophistication shown by some youths in planning attacks indicated clear help from experienced crooks.
Footscray-based Detective Sen-Sgt Mick Elliott said he’d seen cases of young people stealing firearms for more serious criminals.
“They have built up their skills. They are schooled by adult offenders out of prison, they are schooled up for the purposes of getting money, getting vehicles, getting firearms,” he said.
FIVE YEARS AGO
AND NOW
Some young offenders busted as part of a major operation in the northern and western suburbs had associations to outlaw bikie gangs and Middle Eastern crime groups, he said.
“They were very, very organised. They were very well connected,” he said.
The detective said some syndicate leaders were heavy drug users, and encouraged younger offenders “because they know that the consequences aren’t there”.
Police also suspect in some instances, younger criminals who have spent time in youth detention are swapping skills and intelligence while inside.
Detectives say they are battling to change the worldview of some offenders.
Supt Bateson said he “absolutely” felt despair knowing the current crop of violent young criminals had siblings as young as five or six. “You can see that trajectory,” he said.
MELBOURNE CRIME SPREE
APRIL 25
Toorak Rd, Toorak
A man is bashed with a baseball bat and his Mercedes stolen at 2am.
MAY 4
Ardrie Rd, Malvern East
A woman is attacked as she gets out of her car to open the gate to her driveway at 9.20pm. Her Audi A5 is stolen.
JUNE 21
Intersection of Waverley Rd and Belgrave Rd, Malvern East
40-year-old man has his Mercedes stolen after he is attacked with a hammer at 3.30am. Three teenagers — 16, 17 and 18 — charged.
JUNE 22
Intersection of Wattletree Rd and Glenferrie Rd, Malvern
A 23-year-old man was attacked with a crowbar when he got out of his 2015 Audi sedan after it was nudged from behind about 2.15am.
JULY 4
David St, Dandenong
Armed duo got into a car at 10.45pm and allegedly threatened to behead the driver if he didn’t give them his phone, keys and the car. Two males, 17 and 19, charged.
JULY 5
Plenty Rd, Preston
Woman approached by four males as she sat in her 2001 Mitsubishi Magna on the phone outside her home about midnight. Boy, 15, among those charged.
JULY 8
JULY 18
George St, St Albans
Father and 12-year-old daughter in BMW X5 attacked in the driveway of their home about 11.30pm. Thirteen teenagers, three of them aged just 13, arrested.
JULY 19
Woodlands Drive, Braeside
Man who parked Holden Commodore in workplace driveway assaulted by man carrying what appeared to be a firearm about 7.40am. Fled north in car while accomplice drove an Audi or Volkswagen.
YOUTH CRIME SUMMIT
EDUCATION and job opportunities for the young and what drives violent behaviour are among issues to be examined at the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner’s Youth Summit on Thursday.
Top cop Graham Ashton will address around 200 leaders from government departments, agencies and community organisations to kick off the event, supported by the Herald Sun.
Criminology expert Prof Mark Halsey, from Flinders University, and Salvation Army youth services manager Hayley Troemml-Wilson will also address the gathering tackling young people’s involvement in serious and violent crime.
The discussion will include education and employment, personal safety and victimisation, vulnerability to violent behaviour, mental health and substance misuse.
Mr Ashton said a broader understanding of what was driving youth crime was needed if recidivism was to be addressed.
“This summit for me is an opportunity to learn about the factors — but also importantly what do we have to do, and who’s got to do what to address the issues,’’ he said.
An understanding of the role of parents was also important, he said.
AFL Victoria, the Australian Drug Foundation, Berry Street, Crime Statistics Agency, Education Department, Justice Department, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Federation of Community Legal Centres, Islamic Council of Victoria, Law Institute Victoria Parliament of Victoria, Police Association of Victoria, Victoria Legal Aid and Youth Affairs Council are among organisations attending.
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