By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A FATHER fears it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed in his Narre Warren housing estate, claiming youths have allegedly been hooning on motorbikes near kids.
Mark Lowe, who lives in the Baringa Park Estate in Narre Warren South, claimed two children have already been hit but not seriously injured by the hoons who, he alleges, are regularly speeding on their motorbikes through his street and others close by.
Another nearby resident who lives in a different street to Mr Lowe also contacted Star News this week to report the alleged hooning activity.
On Wednesday 11 February Senior Sergeant Steve Wood said one of the motorbikes related to the alleged incidents had been impounded.
Mr Lowe said the issue had been ongoing for at least two years, but has ramped up recently, and he had reported it to Victoria Police and Casey Council.
“If I don’t do something, it’s going to be a phone call one day and one of the kids will have been hit and killed,” he said.
“They’re coming within inches of the kids at high speed.”
Mr Lowe alleged the youths drove through the streets on “full throttles” and sometimes did wheelies.
“They use our front lawn as a turning strip, they’re doing 40, maybe 50 kilometres an hour through a footpath,” he said.
Sen Sgt Wood said Victoria Police was aware of the “hoon activity” in this particular neighbourhood involving “unregistered motorcyclists”, and was investigating the issue.
Police and council officers met with residents on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
“A number of addresses were attended and people have been identified and spoken to in relation to the alleged hoon activity,” Sen Sgt Wood said.
“The investigation is ongoing.
“Police will be running a targeted operation over the coming weeks to prevent this dangerous behaviour from occurring.”
City of Casey manager Community Safety Caroline Bell confirmed council was working with the police to “investigate this matter and determine the best, co-operative response”.
Mr Lowe’s concern comes as Carrum Downs mother Andrea Lehane was killed last September after she was struck by an 18-year-old allegedly riding an illegal ‘monkey’ bike.
Last year a new policy was introduced restricting police from pursuing hoons but not stopping pursuits completely.
This week a police survey was released, and of the 3000 officers who responded – about one fifth of the force – 93 per cent said the police pursuit policy had failed to strike the right balance between the risks and benefits of pursuits.
If you see or witness dangerous driving, report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you are in immediate danger, call police immediately on triple-zero.
