Online gang hooks ‘good kid’

The actions of one Waikato teen prompted a police warning for parents to watch their children’s social media use.

The boy tried to rob a Waikato service station to gain acceptance by a youth gang he’d joined online.

Youth gangs are using Snapchat, Facebook and Messenger to recruit members, who must commit crimes to gain credibility, police warn.

A shoe print left on the counter and some local nous by a community constable led to the identification of the 15 year old.

It was the Waikato teenager’s first encounter with the law, Te Kauwhata Constable Gareth Barnes said.

He comes from a ‘‘good family’’ and is a ‘‘good kid’’ who lives in a relatively isolated part of the Waikato.

Barnes said the boy’s parents were unaware he had linked up with the youth gang We Strait Aych (WSH) on social media.

The youth gang operates throughout the country, influencing and recruiting members on Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and Messenger.

Last year WSH was understood to be responsible for repeated robberies at a Christchurch Night ’n Day store over six months.

Barnes said the Waikato teen had hooked up with the gang online and was vocal about it on his social media profiles.

‘‘You wouldn’t expect him to join a youth gang without the associations he’d formed online,’’ Barnes said.

To gain credibility with the gang, members commit crimes, such as aggravated robberies.

On August 3 about 7pm, the Waikato teen, armed with a large screwdriver dressed in a black cap and brown bandanna, attempted to rob the Te Kauwhata gas station on Main Road, Barnes said.

He jumped the counter and tried to make demands, but staff stood up to him and he fled empty-handed.

The Waitomo Petroleum station’s assistant manager, Davinder Kaur, said her whole body was left shaking after the attempted robbery.

She was working in the store that Friday when the teen came in wielding what she thought was a knife.

‘‘It was very scary for me – he was standing in front of me with the knife.

‘‘He yelled, ‘Give me smokes, give me smokes,’ ’’ she said.

‘‘When I saw him, I ran away to the kitchen.’’

Kaur called it the ‘‘worst experience of my life’’.

‘‘My whole body was shaking at the time.

‘‘I couldn’t sleep the whole night.’’

The 23 year old, who’s worked in the station for two years, knows the parents and had even served the teen.

‘‘They are a good family, are nice, and it’s very shameful that he was my customer.

‘‘He’s only 15 years old and he’s doing a robbery – in a gang.

‘‘It’s not a good thing for him and his family.’’

At the scene, Barnes found a footprint on the counter.

He photographed it and after reviewing CCTV footage, had a suspect in mind.

He approached the teenager’s parents, who were helpful.

The footprint matched the teen’s shoe and the boy then admitted to the crime.

‘‘That he had to do something like this is quite concerning.’’

Police were now working with the boy’s parents, going through the youth aid process, to identify underlying offending.

‘‘It’s a good reminder for parents to be aware of what their children are up to online and keep an eye on kids’ social media accounts,’’ Barnes said.

earlier reported that youth gangs were bragging about robberies, ram raids and other crimes on social media.

Many post footage, photos and news articles on various pages and YouTube.

NetSafe director of education and engagement Sean Lyons said social media makes it easy for gangs to not just recruit but ‘‘perhaps even target particular individuals based on kids potentially more likely to respond to their messages – in the same way that advertising has worked online – targetting an individual with a particular message.’’

It was, in a way, radicalising gangs, making them more appealing to a wider audience in an accessible social space.

‘‘You can put the message out there, make yourself look more appealing and then convince them that being part of a particular gang is something they want.

‘‘The parents of this kid, I’m sure, are distraught he has been recruited.’’

Himself a father of teenagers, Lyons said it is important parents know about it and spread the word.

It is difficult to monitor children’s social media without snooping or breaking a child’s trust, he said.

‘‘The best thing is to have an open line of communication with young people.’’ He encouraged parents to talk to children about what apps they’re on, who they’re connected to, and to query any new connections or friendships.