A Shepparton woman who witnessed a group of youths brandish knives threateningly towards a couple of kids on bikes and an elderly man walking a dog last week in Shepparton’s CBD said something needed to be done to stop “terrifying” antisocial behaviour in the city.
The incident took place on High St at around 12.05pm on Friday, July 3.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, says she watched the trio of “kids” as they “terrorised people walking by and yelled abuse to everyone down High St” before they waited in a car park, with knives behind their backs and one of them wearing a balaclava, for the boys on bikes to approach and then “stalked” after them.
“The young kids on a bike were absolutely scared and screaming as they chased after them,” she said.
“I waited three-and-a-half minutes to get through to Triple Zero because everyone on the street was on their phones also calling.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson told The News earlier in the week that they responded to the reports and located two boys, aged 13 and 14, outside Shepparton Railway Station soon after.
Police seized two knives from the pair and issued cautions to both of the teenagers.
“How much more do we have to tolerate in this community with these kids? Something needs to be done,” the woman said.
The woman believes the same group was responsible for stealing from shops before the noon incident and then throwing lit sparklers through the doors of a department store later that night.
“They’re going into shops, loading their pockets and terrorising staff,” she said.
“And they know they can’t be touched because of their age.”
In Victoria, the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 12 years old.
Children under the age of 12 conclusively cannot be charged with or convicted of a criminal offence.
For children aged 12 and 13, the legal principle of doli incapax applies, meaning they are presumed incapable of committing a crime unless the prosecution can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the child knew their actions were seriously wrong at the time.
“Police can’t do anything, but they issue other people with exclusion orders, why can’t they issue these kids with one?” the woman said.
The woman said she and other witnesses reported what they’d seen to both Triple Zero operators and local police.
The Victoria Police spokesperson said police had no reports of threats or injuries in relation to the incident.
The July 3 incident unfolded within Shepparton’s ‘Safer City’ 19-camera CCTV network area, which is jointly managed by Greater Shepparton City Council and Victoria Police, and covers the CBD area (including High St).
Footage from the network streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, directly to a central control room within Shepparton Police Station.
“Why didn’t the police cameras see them? The community needs to know more,” the woman said.
Video footage from the camera system is recorded and stored for 31 days unless downloaded for legal investigations or police evidence.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or with further information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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