ACTION STATIONS
Police step up patrols as another teen is savagely attacked
POLICE are cracking down on attacks at train stations following a rise in incidents across the region.
A Gold Coast teenager is the latest to be attacked, allegedly beaten so savagely by two sisters near Helensvale train station that doctors thought she had a broken neck.
A GOLD Coast teenager was so savagely beaten by two sisters near the Helensvale train station that doctors thought she had a broken neck.
The incident, in which the teen was coward punched, dragged to the ground and kicked repeatedly, reflects public and police concerns that railway and tram stations are becoming the hunting ground for young thugs looking to bash, rob and harass commuters.
The 17-year-old girl was seriously assaulted, spat on and her mobile phone stolen by two teenage girls while she attempted to get to the Helensvale station with her boyfriend.
The teen was left with severe bruising to her chest after being coward punched from the side and then kicked while on the ground, allegedly by two sisters aged 13 and 16.
The assailants were part of a larger group. It is understood the vicious assault was filmed by one of the gang and posted on social media.
The Bulletin also understands the video will form part of the evidence in the case against the alleged offenders.
The Helenvale assault joins a long list of incidents at train stations on the Coast in the past three months.
Police sources have told the Bulletin they have definitely seen an increase in call-outs to public transport stations.
Officers are cracking down, and have launched Operation Luminous to target unruly and violent behaviour at tram and rail stations in the region.
The victim’s mother yesterday asked what it would take to protect the travelling public.
“You should be able to go to the shops or the movies or anywhere without having gangs of youths picking on people. They’ll pick on anyone who’s an easy target” she said.
“With all the one-punch issues at the moment, my daughter could have fallen down on the ground and it could have been very serious.
“Until one of them does something like that, they’ll just keep doing it.
“It’s a scary thing as a parent. I don’t want this happening to another child.
“It’s getting worse out there … to happen in the early afternoon, it’s daylight and there doesn’t seem to be any help from the public. I know we don’t like to get involved (but) people are just standing there filming it, instead of helping.”
The teenage victim, who asked not to be named, said doctors initially thought she had a fractured neck.
She has whiplash and headaches after the assault.
“A young girl asked me for a cigarette, I told her ‘no, I don’t smoke’. She continued to follow me towards the entrance of the train station where you tap your Go Card,” she said.
“Her older sister then confronted me. She told her little sister to fight me. She got up in my face and was offering me out to fight. I told her I wasn’t going to fight her, I’m not a fighter.
“I turned my head, she king hit me, I dropped all my stuff on the ground. I grabbed her above the shoulder and pushed her away, then she continued to swing at me and pull my hair, then I was on the ground and I was kicked by her and the sister.
“Then the rest of the group began to attack my boyfriend.
“After about 10 minutes of me being thrown around on the ground, some people stepped in and pulled her off me.”
The girl hoped her attackers faced the full force of the law.
“I hope something happens, not just because I’ve been assaulted but because these assaults are happening more,’’ she said.
“I think it would be some justice if they got a lot more than a slap on the wrist. That would be fair. You can’t just go around beating people up because you’re bored.”
Two teenage girls have been charged with common assault and are due to face the Southport Magistrates Court today.
Acting Inspector Troy Penrose of the Northern Patrol group said Operation Luminous would increase police presence at stations, especially during the school holidays.
“It’s about community safety in and around transport hubs and shopping centres,” Acting Insp Penrose said.
Queensland Rail did not comment by deadline.
I KNOW WE DON’T LIKE TO GET INVOLVED (BUT) PEOPLE ARE JUST STANDING THERE FILMING IT, INSTEAD OF HELPING. VICTIM’S MOTHER