By LAURA WAKELY
POLICE were shocked to arrest five child offenders among a gang of young people who robbed and assaulted taxi drivers last weekend.
Nine people were arrested after they attacked taxi drivers across the western suburbs last Sunday night.
As previously reported by Star, the five incidents took place after midnight in Sunshine, Sunshine North, Brooklyn, and Laverton North.
In each of the incidents two cars were used to block off a taxi before the masked occupants used baseball bats to damage the vehicles and rob the drivers.
In one incident a driver was dragged from his taxi and had his arm broken.
A 14 and 16-year-old from Sunshine West, a 14-year-old from Deer Park and a 17-year old from Deer Park were remanded in custody to face children’s court faced with four counts of armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery.
A 21-year-old Westmeadows man and a 20-year-old Truganina man were charged and bailed with handling stolen goods, while an 18-year-old Sunshine man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 13 charges, including armed robbery and assault.
A 19-year-old Derrimut man faced an out of sessions court hearing last week.
A 16-year-old Kings Park girl was also arrested before being released pending further enquiries.
Brimbank Superintendent Rick Nugent was extremely concerned by the incidents.
“We saw from the vision of the taxis that it’s a very violent crime that’s been committed on these taxi drivers and its’ very concerning that people of this age are involved in that sort of activity,” Supt Nugent said.
“It’s disappointing. We hope, subsequent to this, ideally that this puts an end to their crime and appropriate interventions take place.”
He did not believe the group was involved in gang activity.
A taxi owner, who did not want to be named said drivers had been offered counselling after the incident.
One driver has not returned to work since he was attacked.
Supt Nugent said police were working with the taxi industry to ensure drivers were safe and encouraged any drivers who felt threatened to contact police immediately.
“It is a violent attack on people who are just going about their business, making a dollar through driving taxis. In society it just can’t be tolerated.”
