A gang of thugs of African appearance have trashed a brand new housing estate’s community centre and now use it to take drugs and peddle ice.
Once a tranquil space fro western Melbourne families to congregate, Ecoville Community Park in Tarneit is now a no-go zone.
Furniture, windows, and even walls were smashed, rubbish strewn everywhere, and graffiti covered every surface while residents live in fear.
A gang of thugs of African appearance have trashed a brand new housing estate’s community centre and now use it to take drugs and peddle ice, despite regular police patrols (pictured a teenager being arrested at the park)
Furniture, windows, and even walls were smashed, rubbish strewn everywhere, and graffiti covered every surface while residents live in fear
Police make frequent arrests at the park but appear to have little effect in making them leave the area and stop destroying the centre.
The rampaging youths appear to be from numerous gangs, including Menace to Society with its ‘MTS’ initials tagged on walls around the centre.
Wyndam Police described a disturbing scene last month when they arrived at Ecoville after reports of antisocial behaviour.
‘Whilst there conducting a recon of the area, the officers were approached by a large group of youths demanding to know what the police were doing in ‘their park’, among other pleasantries,’ they said.
Police had to radio for backup and two youths were given infringements for behaving in a riotous and offensive manner and a 17-year-old boy charged with resisting arrest.
Once a tranquil space fro western Melbourne families to congregate, Ecoville Community Park in Tarneit is now a no-go zone
Residents near the community centre say they are fearful as African teens go on nightly rampages through the area, damaging nearby homes.
‘We don’t feel safe at all. I want to take my children to the park but it’s too dangerous. Gangs show up here all hours of the day and night,’ new resident and father-of-two Manish Kinger told the Herald Sun.
Fellow resident Linah Simukai said: ‘You don’t know what they’re capable of doing and that’s the scariest part about it.’
Wyndham Local Area Commander Inspector Mary Allison said police continued to patrol the park, make arrests, and issue infringements.
‘Property damage, drug activity and anti-social behaviour at the park have been our main concern. The community deserves to feel safe in their local park,’ she said.
‘Members will continue to patrol the area and anyone found conducting criminal activity will be held to account for their actions.’
Menace to Society gang tags were sprayed at the centre, the same gang linked to when a policeman was kicked in the face as he crouched down trying to arrest a 16-year-old boy for shoplifting
Police have released images of a person (pictured, left, right) they believe can assist them with their inquiries
MTS is linked to the infamous Apex gang and last week trashed an Airbnb property in Werribee with an out-of-control party.
Police were forced to retreat from the house when more than 100 youths of primarily South Sudanese appearance pelted them with rocks.
Photos taken from inside the house show walls kicked and punched in, mattresses thrown on top of furniture and pepper spray splattered across bedroom curtains.
About 40 youths then terrorised the neighbourhood by roaming the streets smashing car windscreens and throwing rocks.
MTS is linked to the infamous Apex gang and last week trashed an Airbnb property in Werribee with an out-of-control party
Police were forced to retreat from the house when more than 100 youths of primarily South Sudanese appearance pelted them with rocks
Then on Boxing Day a policeman was kicked in the face by gang members as he crouched down trying to arrest a 16-year-old boy for shoplifting.
The senior constable sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to hospital as the youth who assaulted him remained at large.
An internal police memo warned officers that African gangs could try to lure them into laneway ambushes by running away from crimes to make them pursue.