Victoria’s youth crime crisis sparks community safety fears
THREE shocking cases of serial offending and soft justice can be revealed, as Victoria’s youth crime crisis spirals out of control.
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- EDITORIAL: Slam the jail door on thugs
THREE shocking cases of serial offending and soft justice can be revealed, as Victoria’s youth crime crisis spirals out of control.
One of the three West Gate Bridge bandits, who led police on a dangerous chase in a stolen car on Monday after a string of jewellery store and tobacconist raids, was free on a supervision order despite a series of shocking crimes.
The Apex member, 17, had faced charges over the Moomba riots, raided a Brighton East home and attacked a father with umbrella poles, and bashed a household of sleeping male students in Ormond with hammers, threatening to rape them.
Another youth was bailed last week after raiding homes while carrying weapons.
He had also faced court over the Moomba riots, robberies and thefts of BMWs — one of which crashed into a median strip on the West Gate Freeway on July 8, critically injuring a teenage girl who was flung out.
A Parkville rioter is also back out on bail, despite involvement in smashing into jewellery stores and tobacconists, burgling Mentone and Airport West properties, several suburban shopping centre smash-and-grabs, a carjacking, and leading police on a chase to the city.
None of the teens can be identified because they are under 18.
The revelations come as:
RATES of aggravated burglary by teens have almost tripled;
OPPOSITION Leader Matthew Guy called for non-citizens to be deported immediately for repeated attacks on Victorians;
THE Youth Parole Board denied a government bid to move seven 16-year-olds to an adult prison;
ALMOST a dozen youths were charged over raids on Officeworks stores across Melbourne.
In staggering scenes yesterday, a young man charged with attempted armed robbery while on bail jumped the dock of the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in a bid to escape.
Charles Joma, 20, was slammed to the ground by police and guards.
“I tried, I tried. You can’t keep me locked up forever. F--- this world. F--- everything. I’ll get out a free man and f--- you too,” Mr Joma screamed at the magistrate, John Bentley.
In its attempts to deal with the youth crime problem the State Government is planning a special youth wing within an adult prison, possibly at the Metropolitan Remand Centre.
The Herald Sun can reveal that, separate to this process, an application was made to move seven teens as young as 16 to an adult prison for crimes they have committed.
However, the Youth Parole Board refused the applications.
A spokesman for Families and Children Minister Jenny Mikakos, Nathan Motton, said: “The government makes no apology for relocating around 40 young people into an adult prison because of this disgraceful behaviour.
“This plan is not impacted by the Youth Parole Board’s decision,” he said.
Teenagers given deferred sentences and diversions over the Moomba riots have continued to front magistrates for worsening crimes, including aggravated burglaries and carjackings. Many of the offenders seemed to be of African appearance.
Last month, a gang of teens awaiting punishment for violent offences was accused of a fresh 24-hour spree of armed robberies, home invasions and car thefts.
One of them, 17, is back on the streets after he was bailed on aggravated burglary and weapons charges over the spree, allegedly committed alongside two of his cousins.
An accomplice of his was released on a youth supervision order last week, despite himself being on multiple counts of bail when the terrifying crimes were committed.
Another of the group, also involved in the Moomba riots, was bailed on Wednesday.
Police say the gang used a crowbar and sledgehammer to storm service stations and households on October 5-10.
A Children’s Court heard some of the mob threatened to stab a man in his Delahey home after they smashed windows with a sledgehammer.
Police allege in the days before, members of the same group forced their way into a Coles Express and 7-Eleven in Keilor East and Caroline Springs, stealing several thousand dollars worth of cigarettes, as well as cash.
The 17-year-old pleaded guilty in August to affray over the Moomba riots, as well car thefts, aggravated burglaries, robberies and thefts committed in May, June and July. Despite serious bail breaches, he was freed on a 10-month probation order on September 7 and is now appealing against a second probation order for attempted robbery.
In another case, a 17-year-old on bail who crashed a stolen car near the MCG in July has been released to contest charges over burglaries, a carjacking and police pursuit also allegedly committed on bail.
He returns to court next week over crimes that include trashing Parkville youth prison on multiple occasions.