Teen attacked with machete outside Watergardens Shopping Centre

A 15-year-old was attacked by a gang outside Watergardens Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s northwest. Now his mum is calling on the state government to make the area safer.

A mother whose son was allegedly attacked with a machete and threatened by a gang of thugs in Melbourne’s northwest has accused the state government of “sitting on their hands” amid a violent youth crime wave.

Daniela, who did not want her full name used, said her 15-year-old son was ambushed by 10 teens outside Watergardens Shopping Centre, just days before three youths were stabbed.

The mother said the teens brutally threatened, attacked and spat on her son on the afternoon of July 14 leaving him with a “bloody nose, cuts to his mouth and significant bruising to his ribs.”

She said her son was approached by the gang who wanted to steal his jacket and phone.

The 15-year-old boy was allegedly attacked by a group of thugs outside Watergardens Shopping Centre.

“They bashed him in front of the Goodlife gym and tried to pull him out of camera view,” she said.

Daniela said her son has had “his confidence and independence taken away from him” when he was attacked by a group of teenagers in a random unprovoked attack.

“One of the kids had a machete in his hand and started poking him with the machete and threatened him, ‘I’m going to kill you, I will stab you if you don’t give me your jacket,’” Daniela said.

“They poked him with the machete, spat on him and then threatened him.”

Terrified for his life, he finally gave them his jacket and made a quick dash to get away.

However as he ran towards the library, there was another group awaiting him there who callously bashed him again, the heartbroken mother said.

Daniela said her son was almost unrecognisable when he got home.

“He was covered in blood everywhere.

“He ran around the whole house, locking everything hysterically. “They’re going to kill me, they’re going to find me and kill me,” he terrifyingly repeated to his family.

The teenager was allegedly attacked with a machete. Picture: iStock.

Daniela is calling for the government to intervene and for there to be more police presence in the area.

She has contacted her local MP Natalie Hutchins imploring her to take drastic action with stronger police presence.

“It seems like local MPs are just sitting on their hands, not doing anything about it and it’s really unfortunate. How many more deaths and attacks is it going to take for them to do something?”

Victoria Police confirmed detectives have charged two teenagers following an alleged robbery in Taylors Lakes on 14 July.

Police arrested two boys, aged 14 and 15, who were both charged with robbery and attempted robbery.

The 14-year-old has been granted bail and will next appear at a magistrates’ court on August 10.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old was bailed to appear in a children’s court in November.

It comes after an unprecedented surge in youth crime which includes the stabbing of three teens in Watergardens last week.

A Victorian government spokesman said their thoughts and sympathies were with the affected family.

“Violence of any kind is unacceptable and Victoria Police is taking all necessary steps to disrupt this serious crime,” he said.

“We have made record investments in Victoria Police to ensure they have the resources and tools they need to detect and deter crime and keep our community safe.

“It’s important to recognise that only a small number of young people are involved in serious violent crime, and even fewer first-time offenders.

“However we know more work needs to be done – that’s why the Budget continues to back early intervention and crime prevention programs to empower communities and support young people away from crime.”