ACT: Youth gang using crime for enjoyment and street cred
14 Jan 2009 5:36 PM
Eds: Changes number of people charged in 2nd last par, from three to two, on updated information from police
CANBERRA, Jan 14 AAP - A gang of young "petty thugs" have assaulted 18 people in Canberra over the past month for enjoyment and "street cred", rather than for money, police say.
The youths wear balaclavas or bandanas to cover their faces during the attacks, which have occurred late at night or early in the morning.
They have used sticks, baseball bats and metal bars.
ACT Policing has set up a special taskforce to investigate the assaults, which it believes are linked.
Eighteen young men aged 14 to 25 have been set upon by the gang in south Canberra since early December.
"Investigations indicate the youths are committing these callous crimes purely to obtain some degree of street credibility," Superintendent Matt Varley said in a statement.
"These youths are part of a loosely-formed group whose motives behind these crimes appear to be for their enjoyment and their peers."
Small amounts of cash have been taken with the victims being punched or kicked.
Supt Varley described the offenders as "petty thugs and thieves who hunt in packs and mostly prey on people who are walking alone, waiting for a bus, or riding a bicycle at night and in poorly lit areas".
The thugs have been bragging and boasting about the attacks and seem to think they were above the law, Supt Varley said.
"But that's about to change. Police have had enough."
ACT Policing have charged two males in relation to the robberies but are struggling to identify other gang members.
Supt Varley warned residents to be alert, walk purposely and "try to appear confident".
