Yet another scene of violence...

[Smooth]

Yep, following the initial riot I wrote about just a couple of months ago the Smooth residence has seen two others since. And unfortunately added a fourth to the tally this saturday just gone.

The second and the third werent as violent as the first but maybe I became desensitised after that first. I certainly didnt feel threatened at all for the subsequent two so I guess thats a factor in my assessment?

However the fourth incident this weekend did have me feeling threatened and made me wonder yet again what exactly has gone wrong with this current crop of teens!

Wasn't smoking a cigar this time but was happily having a quiet night in with Mrs Smooth on the lounge enjoying a glass of wine and a movie. Over the movie I heard a bit of yelling in the streets and from previous experience decided to head out and close the gates to the driveway. As I approached the gates I notice my neighbors wife, a delicate woman about the same age as myself (26) walking up her back deck after arriving home. I head down the drive and yet again see 300+ teens gathered around the intersection 150mtrs away. As I get closer to the gates all hell breaks loose and hundreds of kids surge west, screaming with all the bad traits of a mob gone mad. The sickening sounds of punches connecting, screams, cheers and taunts are aplenty.

By this stage I have one side of the gates closed when what only can be described as a stampede sound heads towards me. Two of the 'targets' have broken free and ran to the corner of my street, followed by at a guess 80-100 weak little runts (excuse my language but honestly 100 vs 2???) looking for blood. I decide the best bet is to continue to calmly secure the second gate and head back inside. As I do this, the two 'escapees' are punched and kicked ferociously. I run up the driveway to call the police and yet again grab the tomahawk to protect my family and property should any idiot decide to attempt something. As I run I stop as my neighbor is already frantically on the phone to police and crying... I tell her (yelling) to forget about locking her front gates and to instead lock her back deck as it is; for lack of a better description 'caged'.

I bolt back into the house and grab the tomahawk, the look on Mrs Smooth's face is one that knows our relaxing night in is all but over. As she has missed the previous three events she ventures outside with me to be close to our neighbor and keep an eye out for trouble within our property boundary. In the next ten minutes we witness roaming brawls in every direction, a level of violence I have not seen since my days in Melbourne, girls being beaten by other girls, a girl being knocked to the ground bleeding at our gates and thankfully about a dozen police taking charge aggressively as they arrive.

Its takes about two hours for the streets to completely clear and about 1 second for my thoughts of bringing a child into this world in the next few years to be one of trepidation to say the least. We didnt have any damage to our property, nor did I have to confront anyone this time but im man enough to admit I was shitting myself during the worst of it this time around.

As I mentioned last time, this IS NOT a bad neighborhood, in fact it is one of the better and safer suburbs close to Brisbane CBD. I am completely shocked at what I have witnessed since moving here, as are the police when I was called in to make a statement this morning. Even worse is the fact this one station had to deal with numerous similar disturbances on this particular night. All I could say to the officer was 'considering you guys carry weapons, you deserve a medal for not using them on these despicable little creatures'... to which I got a nod and a little laugh of agreement.

We are having our engagement party at our home in two weeks time, with the current timeline of past events there is a fair chance of another incident. The Mrs is worried these little turds will hear our guests (approx 50) and music and target us for their 'fun'. I hate to say it but I too am scared of what would unfold if this became the case. I want to hire a team of static security for the night, but Mrs Smooth isn't keen as she thinks its overkill and will intimidate the guests. Anyone have any advice?

God what a night. Again!

[Ellery]

Wow, thats a story I don't hear often. Sorry you have to deal with that problem. On the other note, congrats on your engagement. I think I would personally hire security. It may be overkill, but I'd rather have too much than not enough...

[semery74]

Sounds like you need more after school programs in Brisbane. May I also suggest a loudspeaker system that pumps out 16-20KHz at 140db, sort of a dog whistle for teens.

[scinmyheart]

Holy Toledo...what a story

screw that...4-5 men with shotguns staying on your property should be able to keep the crowd "under control and off of your grass"...I would be kind of scared to not have some type of "defense" with that type of behavior going on...good luck with whatever you decide

[Rogers72]

That's some crazy stuff. It may be a possibility to give the police a heads up on your party and have them watch extra carefully on that night. Don't know how it is down there but where I live they would be more than happy to have a squad car hang CLOSE by that night and keep an eye out.

[Taino]

I've always thought that living with fear of what others might do to us is not living.

I would tell the police you are having a celebration that day in your home and ask them to keep an eye on your property (in my country you can do that and they do it happily), I would hire a couple of guards, but nothing too flashy, just to keep an eye and yell to the police early in case something happens.

Best of lucks mate! I hope everything ends up great.

[thechenman]

As suggested here...definitely give the police a heads up about the party and express your concern over what has transpired on a fairly regular basis of late. The second thing I would do is obtain a shotgun. I know gun laws in Australia are tough, but I'm sure people obtain shotguns all the time for bird hunting, or target/***** shooting.

[cadillacdoc]

Anyone have any advice?

Hire a couple of "off-duty" cops and have them park the patrol car on the street. Should circumvent any problem.

[Guest blrrobinson21]

What are they mobbing for. Is there a reason or are they just bored and poorly parented. I agree, kids these days are awful. About 30 miles away from me, there was a 9 year old murdered by a 15 year old "both girls" . The news said that the 15 did it because she wanted to see what it felt like. What is happening these days. Unfortunately I blame the parents.

[SmokinLightning]

Please tell me you some sort of firearm in the house... your repressive regime at least allows shotguns, no?

It really sounds like a situation that could quite easily get way out of hand. Once that "pack" instinct takes over, no telling what people will do...

[Ken Gargett]

hire them.

won't be over kill if needed. and better safe than sorry.

[Wiley]

That seems more like some post-Apocalyptic movie that anything I've ever seen around here, thankfully! Maybe it's time to consider moving.

[android]

Call your local police, most officers in the states do security on the side.

[Sandman]

I am a dual citizen, OZ and US citizen. Australia is completely out of control. Reason? Nobody is at all serious about drugs, or any kind of discipline of any kind. Kill somebody, get 4 years, torture and kill somebody, get 4 years, do anything at all including the most horrific of crimes in Australia.....guess what? You'll get 4 -6 years and no more than 10. What a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't want to work, get paid!!! Play pokies all day, still get paid, your a lazy bastard, still get paid, just don't feel like doing anything at all? Still get paid.

Why is this acceptable in OZ????????????

[asmith]

Don't want to work, get paid!!! Play pokies all day, still get paid, your a lazy bastard, still get paid, just don't feel like doing anything at all? Still get paid.

Thats the kiwis living in Australia.

[Smooth]

Registered the party with the police yesterday while I was there, they will try and sweep by a few times over the course of the night which is about all I can ask for.

No firearm in the house and even if I did have a weapons license and ended up using it should the worst occur, under Australian law im sure id be off to prison for a while. Which is completely ridiculous IMO. This sort of thing wouldnt be a problem if we had USA style gun control and a few of us in the area had weapons.

Will look into getting off duty cops if possible. Did this in Melbourne years ago a few times but never heard of it being possible up here. Definitely no chance of having a squad car park out the front!!

It is a real shame what has been transpiring and is an awful reflection of societies standards of behavior slipping greatly. The cops are fed up and bound by our soft laws. Really worrying if the downward spiral continues.

There was no reason I could see for the mob behavior, and after observing them they werent even intoxicated!!

At a complete loss for any sort of explanation really...

[chuck1rar]

Curious to know where this was reported in the media and which area of Brisbane....

Did a quick net search but came up empty...

[zuma]

Has Corey moved into your neighbourhood?

Some one or something is attracting those idiots to the neighbourhood... install an electrified fence that you turn on for such occurrences, or move to Coober Pedy...

[sje]

maybe Melbourne wasnt that bad afterall, move back for your safety at least the Cold keeps more inside

spiro

all bad all over, Drug of choice now ? (ice) or not enough to do ?. i have a officer of the law as a close friend, and they dont even feel safe, (now thats a statement in OZ)

i have 4 kids

9yo Girl = swimming + basketball

7yo Girl = Swimming and Dancing

6YO Girl = swimming +basketball and soon dancing

5yo BOy = Swimming +Bball + tennis + whatever else he wants to do

now keeping kids busy and physically active is not always the answer but i sure bet our % chance of idiot Teenagers has reduced because they are not bored (ever)

[El Presidente]

Move Smooth

Mate I have lived in Brisbane all my life. The most trouble I have witnessed I have possibly contributed to. I have coached teens in rugby for years and years and while there is testosterone brewing once they reach 14 they know right from wrong. They understand to walk away.

My parents live on the Gold Coast (Mermaid Beach) and I and my brothers have more than once walked together to assist some drongo who has been beaten up by another drongo in a melee you have described. 40-50 teens and blokes in their 20's pissed and having a night just off the beach tends to get out of hand. We always call an ambulance/police and administer first aid as required. Rick my youngest brother stands behind with a loaded speargun.

Keep in mind we are talking a minority of todays youth. In the main I find them to be articulate and deep thinkers. Just a bell curve and if you are living where the curve is slanted to the extreme.....move for yourself and your family.

[armedak]

Unfortunately, here's another vote for moving. In the meantime, I would do whatever I had to do to get some firepower in the house to protect my family. A hatchet doesn't really cut it no pun intended. Do you really think the police can protect you and respond in time if the mob broke into the house? Talk about the unintended consequences of gun control.

[Smooth]

Move Smooth

Mate I have lived in Brisbane all my life. The most trouble I have witnessed I have possibly contributed to. I have coached teens in rugby for years and years and while there is testosterone brewing once they reach 14 they know right from wrong. They understand to walk away.

My parents live on the Gold Coast (Mermaid Beach) and I and my brothers have more than once walked together to assist some drongo who has been beaten up by another drongo in a melee you have described. 40-50 teens and blokes in their 20's pissed and having a night just off the beach tends to get out of hand. We always call an ambulance/police and administer first aid as required. Rick my youngest brother stands behind with a loaded speargun.

Keep in mind we are talking a minority of todays youth. In the main I find them to be articulate and deep thinkers. Just a bell curve and if you are living where the curve is slanted to the extreme.....move for yourself and your family.

This might sound stupid mate, but moving has never entered my mind. And the police also said its happening everywhere more and more regularly. No matter the area.

We love living here and 99.99% of the time it is a magical place to live, perfect sleepy inner city suburb. Its just a shame that .01% of the time idiots cause us disturbance. Its definitely not the extreme of the curve here, its people from miles away arriving by train/parents because one of their idiot friends decides to rent out the hall close to my property. Its a bloody shame. Some of the neighbors have been here for 30+ years and have never encountered such incidents until recently.

I hope you're right with these idiots being the minority. The neighborhood kids are fine, its these blow in party-goers from god knows where that are turds. Maybe the 'idiot minority' is slowly growing? Because outside of private school circles (these are probably the ones you have the most to do with), im seeing the majority are complete f-wits with little to no respect for others or authority. A day shopping in the city will confirm that. Or maybe its the minority you speak of stirring up the majority for trouble? To me like you say, 40-50 can get out of hand, 300+ is almost a certain guarantee of things getting out of hand.

Either way its making me hope I have some cash swinging next year so I can buy a bit of acreage in the outer burbs! Whats the property next door like Rob?

PS: I also lived on the GC until last year. And had similar experiences to yourself. It's most surely out of control down there as council/law enforcement freely admit it themselves. Hoping Brisbane doesnt head down the same path.

PPS: Excuse the ranting im doing!

[Smooth]

maybe Melbourne wasnt that bad afterall, move back for your safety at least the Cold keeps more inside

now keeping kids busy and physically active is not always the answer but i sure bet our % chance of idiot Teenagers has reduced because they are not bored (ever)

Melbourne wasn't bad so to speak, bad stuff happens everywhere. I adore Brisbane and would never head back to Melb permanently... But enjoy heading back for a visit

Agree RE positive activities.

[Kangaroo495]

Re gun control laws. I think the whole purpose of it is so hooligans like these don't get their hands on guns too.

I don't think having a gun in your house is going to make any difference if this mob is also armed.

That's why the controls exist.

[dicko]

I agree with the not moving comments. The "blow ins" you mention Smooth are the fact that moving won't make any difference. The fact is these days (and this is different even from 5-6 years ago) kids have access to phones and instantaneous messaging through social networking sites (facebook, myspace - also available on their phones) so within half an hour of wording getting out that there is a 'party' at location X you can have a large amount of people making there way to that location.

Also Smooth I'm sure the comment read worse then it was meant, but making a private school/non-private school circle distinction isn't really relevant or correct. I have socialised with both private school and non-private school groups and to be honest either group can get out of hand. That's fact.

Cheers