Locals at a shopping centre in Melbourne’s south-east were locked inside stores as a group of teens, one allegedly armed with a machete, wreaked havoc and terrified shoppers.
The Victorian Government says ‘everything is on the table’ when it comes to fighting the state’s youth crime crisis.
The Allan Government will consider new measures over the coming weeks after consultations with stakeholders.
The measures will be on top of youth justice legislation already before parliament which includes ankle monitors on 50 of the state’s worst youth crime offenders by the end of the year.
The government is also pushing for up to 200 youth offenders to be tracked in total.
A pair of male offenders allegedly assaulted three victims inside Bayside Shopping Centre on Tuesday about 10.50am.
During the incident, police believe one boy brandished an “edged weapon”.
He then cut his own hand and fled the scene.
Police were called to the centre after a group of three people were assaulted, allegedly by a teen wielding a machete. Picture: Josie Hayden
Officers located the weapon in a nearby bin.
Witnesses reported seeing one of the youths wielding a machete.
The three victims sustained minor injuries from the assault but did not require treatment.
It is unclear whether the victims were known to the offenders, or random shoppers.
Police say no one was seriously injured, although witness accounts describe blood smeared on the floor. Picture: Facebook
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One shopper told The Herald Sun witnesses were pleading with the boy to “throw the knife away”.
Blood could be seen on the floor of the shopping centre, although paramedics were not called to the scene.
Witnesses say an injured person was protected by Pandora staff, who hid the victim inside the store and shut the roller doors.
Pandora staff reportedly helped an injured person inside. Picture: Facebook
Melbourne Defence Academy revealed it was starting a Frankston street wise self-defence course in light of the incident.
“It is so sad how the world has changed to a place where it is no longer safe to go to the shops.
“This is why we are so passionate about self-defence for women.
“Frankston street wise self-defence course starting soon.”
Community members are calling for increased security measures at shopping centres, including metal detectors.
“The world is beyond Fd. You can do just as much damage with a knife as you can a gun. We need metal detectors in shopping complexes,” one person posted on Facebook.
“Time for metal detectors & security checks at the main entrances. Enough is enough,” wrote another.