The chilling new underworld trend of paying teens to film violent attacks
Criminals have started paying teenagers up to $10,000 to film violent shootings and assaults as proof of completion and to terrorise rivals in Sydney’s underworld.
Teenagers are being given thousands of dollars by criminals to film violent shootings and assaults both as “proof” and to instil fear in the underworld, police say.
In the past few weeks, several violent incidents have been filmed and distributed throughout the underworld, including three brazen shootings, and a violent assault.
Police sources have revealed the going rate is believed to be about $10,000 for the bootleg cameramen to film the acts.
While gunmen in high-profile underworld shootings have often commanded six-figure payments, those carrying out the shootings in recent times are allegedly accepting as little as $20,000 to carry out revenge on behalf of someone else.
“What’s concerning is that it’s no longer enough to do a violent crime. Now we have additional people, often juveniles, there to film it,” a police source said.
“These gangs are paying thousands just to have these attacks filmed, it seems to be about instilling fear into others.
“But in some cases we’ve seen that having video proof is also a requirement to get paid.”
The Daily Telegraph on Monday revealed NSW Police had developed a new tactic in their efforts to crack down on youth criminals.
Operation Waratah V, run by the Police Transport Command, mapped out the home addresses of almost 1000 troublesome youths in an effort to better understand Sydney’s teen gang problem.
Police believe youths who start out in street gangs have the potential to later become involved in more serious underworld crime.
The filming of alleged underworld attacks first popped up in the wake of the alleged attempted murder of a man at a Revesby daycare in October, when one of the accused was arrested with a GoPro strapped to him – which police alleged was intended to livestream or record the attack.
Then, just two weeks ago, a new crime group called “The Cartel” filmed an alleged drug dealer being pistol-whipped to send a message to others that they were taking over the city’s cocaine supply, warning any opponents who challenged them that they would “face their fate”.
Just five days later another video emerged of an unrelated incident, in which a getaway driver filmed an alleged gunman unleashing more than 40 rounds from a machine gun into a home at Casula.
The next video – and arguably the most brazen – showed a 16-year-old boy allegedly filming as a 22-year-old allegedly fired more than 20 shots from an AK-47 at a Bossley Park home.
The pair, who were charged with firing a firearm at dwelling and participating in a criminal group, remain before the courts.
Then, just last week, a gunman disguising his face and wearing black latex gloves was filmed shooting a man in the leg during a terrifying home invasion.
It’s an extreme elevation from the “posting and boasting” often done by children in regional areas, who have long filmed themselves stealing cars and taking them on joy rides.
Police sources say they worry it won’t be long until a murder is captured on video in the same way.
“It’s scary just how little regard they have for life,” the source said.
Originally published as The chilling new underworld trend of paying teens to film violent attacks
