A Melbourne family have been forced to stash large knives throughout the house and have even turned their toilet into a ‘safe room’ as they fear the growing presence of gangs in their community.
The Beatons have been terrorised by what they claim are African street gangs, forcing the family to implement increased security measures after five burglary attempts in the past year.
‘It used to be you had a fire plan to protect your family, now you need to have a break and enter plan to keep your family safe,’ Eric Beaton told A Current Affair.
The family are so scared for their safety they are packing up and moving to the Gold Coast at the end of January.
The Beatons have been terrorised by what they claim are African street gangs, forcing the family to increased security measures after five burglary attempts in the past year
Their two young daughters also hide weapons around the house, stashing knives in various places should they need further protection
The family say they have been ‘crying for help’ tackling the threat, but feel so let down by law enforcement they have had to resort to extreme measures.
They have turned their bathroom into a ‘safe room’, where the children are instructed to hide in case of emergency.
‘I tell the kids to come (in the safe room) if anything was to happen and they’re not to come out no matter how much I scream or yell, unless I do or the police get them out,’ Danielle Beaton said.
‘I don’t care what they do to me as long as my kids stay safe.’
Their two young daughters also hide weapons around the house, stashing knives in various places should they need further protection.
‘She runs around and puts knives in certain hiding spots so if they come in she’s got something to defend herself with,’ Mrs Beaton said.
They have turned their bathroom into a ‘safe room’, where the children are instructed to hide in case of emergency
‘I’m tired of worrying, it’s time to go live life now, get out of here,’ Mr Beaton said
They say they have been targeted by African gang members five times in the past 12 months, including a break and enter attempt, a house burglary and three attempted carjackings.
‘If they don’t change their way, there’s going to be hell to pay,’ Mr Beaton said.
The Beatons say they are devastated to be leaving family and friends, and for pulling their girls out of school, but they see no other option than to flee.
‘We’ve built our life here, but we don’t see that life as worth it any more, because we feel like we’re in danger,’ Mrs Beaton said.
‘I’m tired of worrying, it’s time to go live life now, get out of here,’ Mr Beaton added.
The Beatons plight is compounded by the emergence of shocking CCTV footage of a gang of African youths viciously attacking a defenceless African teenager on a suburban Melbourne street.
The video, obtained by A Current Affair, shows the group repeatedly assaulting the young man, throwing him onto the bonnet of a car before beating him to the ground.
The victim then has his head punched and stomped before the gang rob him and casually walk away.
Shocking CCTV footage has emerged of a gang of African youths viciously attacking a defenceless African teenager on a suburban Melbourne street
The footage was captured in Tarneit, a suburb in Melbourne’s west. The gang initially confront the teenager, who quickly attempts to flee down a street.
The group catch up to him, before throwing him into the car and begin their brutal attack.
As many as four of the African gang can be seen violently kicking and stomping on the teen as he lays helpless on the ground.
He again attempts to flee, scurrying around the side of the car, but the gang catch him again and use the vehicle as leverage to inflict further damage by jumping off the car onto his body.
As the aggressors subside, other members of the group come in and begin stealing his belongings.
The entire gang then come into shot and surround the injured victim. There appears to be as many as 20 assailants.
They calmly make their way up and down the alley way before walking out of shot.
The teenager is unable to be seen.
He again attempts to flee, scurrying around the side of a car, but the gang catch him again and use the vehicle as leverage to inflict further damage by jumping off the car onto his body
There appears to be as many as 20 assailants. They calmly make their way up and down the alley way before walking out of shot
Police described the incident as ‘terrible’ and said they fully plan to investigate what appears to be the latest issue of gang violence in the Victorian capital.
‘There’s a victim in our community who’s been subjected to what looks like a really serious assault,’ Commander Russell Barret from Victoria Police told A Current Affair.
‘Whether there is a level of organisation in it, I can’t say at this stage, but we will obviously investigate it.’
Victoria Police could not confirm to Daily Mail Australia whether any charges have been laid.