Police Association of Tasmania’s Sgt Shane Tilley on state’s growing youth crime problem

A sweep of Tasmania’s big businesses are “getting flogged” by young offenders who brazenly steal what they want and walk out, the Police Association of Tasmania says. DETAILS >

Shane Tilley, Acting police association president and Commander Jason Elmer, Education and training commander. Picture: Linda Higginson

Some big businesses are “getting flogged” by young offenders who brazenly steal what they want and walk out, the Police Association of Tasmania says.

PAT acting president Sergeant Shane Tilley said shoplifting, threats of violence and assault were increasing every day.

He said special task forces were set up to try to “quell” the behaviour of young repeat offenders.

“Some of the bigger business are getting flogged by these juveniles, they’re stealing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars’ worth of property on a daily basis,” Sgt Tilley said.

“I’ve been in the police service for 23 years and I’ve just come from the Hobart Watch and it is openly brazen.

“Every day they commit the same offences, they’re approached by business owners and workers and they simply walk in and take what they want and know they can’t be touched.

“There are a couple of groups that get around and they do intimidate shopkeepers and their workers, damage, graffiti, stealing and threats of violence and assault.

“We’ve had armed robberies in town where groups will approach citizens and threaten them with violence and steal property from them such as phones and wallets.”

Mr Tilley said he understood retail workers were scared given a recent alleged stabbing at a Moonah shop.