Bum Crack wrote:mighty_tiger_79 wrote:the state government worried about bikies when the real problem for society at the moment is the gang of 49.
im just glad i didnt call into cafe de villi on my way home from work this morning
what did the little pricks do this time? They should put a bounty on their heads. Preferably handed into the authorities in a deceased state.
this is from adelaide now
the bakery at blackforest that was burgled this morning is right next door to the subway that was hit yesterday
POLICE hunting members of the Gang of 49 who ran amok this morning, using guns to rob bakeries before stealing a car, say they are close to making arrests.
The incidents come just a day after police revealed members of the notorious group of repeat Aboriginal offenders are responsible for a series of hold-ups in recent weeks which have targeted hotels, second-hand shops, fast-food restaurants and post offices.
Police patrols are searching for four men who fled the Vili's 24-hour bakery on South Rd, Richmond, with cash after one of them threatened staff just after 6am before getting into a white Commodore containing the other three men.
Minutes earlier doors had been kicked in at another bakery on South Rd, Black Forest, where the till was stolen. One of the offenders cut himself, leaving behind blood which will be examined for DNA.
Four men were seen leaving the first scene in a white Holden Commodore, registration WPH 241. At least one was armed, and the men were all said to be wearing black hooded tops. A car of similar description was seen leaving Manchester Rd.
The car earlier had pulled up outside the 24-hour cafe, with its lights turned off. The four men then went into Vilis and threatened 30 staff and customers.
One staff member was assaulted after he looked at one of the men, who demanded his car keys.
The men are then believed to have driven to Albert St, Clarence Gardens, where they stole a red Commodore from a house, registration XIU 108.
Detectives are looking at links between today's robberies to others yesterday, at Sturt St Post Office and a Subway restaurant at Black Forest minutes later. The suspects from yesterday have been identified as targets of Operation Dimension.
The Task Force is investigating a spate of violent armed robberies in the metropolitan area linked to a hard-core group of predominantly Aboriginal offenders, including juveniles and adults.
Detectives at the Sturt St robbery yesterday confirmed those responsible were linked to another robbery, on a Subway restaurant at Black Forest, minutes later and that the suspects were identified as targets of Operation Dimension.
Speaking to the media at Vili's, Operation Dimension officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Tony Rankine said the task force's targets were "out of control and have no fear".
"This series of events is out of control at the moment,'' he said.
"It's very dangerous. There are weapons being used, people being threatened and the sooner we put a stop to this the better.
"At this stage they seem hell bent on committing as many crimes as they can.
"We know who we are looking for, it's just a matter of finding them. Hopefully it will end sooner rather than later and hopefully it won't end in tragedy.
"That's why my appeal goes out again to relatives, friends and associates to hand them in or tell us where we can apprehend them."
Vili's owner, Vili Milisits, said he could not believe the men had robbed his business while it was busy with customers and staff.
"They're getting more aggressive I think,'' he said.
"You consider there was 30 people in this place and they still came in. There are 23-odd cameras in this place - they're not worried about anything.
"If they (courts) gave them genuine sentences, maybe they could stop them. If they don't get caught, there's going to be some serious injury out there."
Social Inclusion Board chairman Monsignor David Cappo is in Canberra today but his office said he was ``extremely concerned’’ about the ``very serious’’ situation.
Monsignor Cappo is taking a full police briefing and Premier Mike Rann has asked him to investigate the incidents.
What more could be done to curb this youth crime problem? Tell us in the comment box below.
The crime spree this morning came after Det-Supt Rankine yesterday called for the protectors of the six principal members of the gang who were still at large to give them up to police.
He said the group and a growing band of young associates were becoming increasingly dangerous and brazen.
Yesterday afternoon, before 5pm, two men believed to be linked to the gang raided a city post office and Subway restaurant at Black Forest with a rifle and other weapons.
"I think their actions are quite dangerous and very irresponsible," Det-Supt Rankine said of the recent attacks.
"They show no regard for others' safety.
"That's indicated by their high-speed pursuits and their actions in those premises where they are wielding weapons including guns and knives."
Det-Supt Rankine said 10 principal members, aged 17 to 29, were responsible for at least 10 armed robberies and home invasions in recent months.
'Four of the men are now in police custody.
Two men, aged 21 and 23, appeared in the Holden Hill Magistrates Court yesterday after being arrested on Hampstead Rd on Wednesday night. They were charged with unlawfully possessing money and property.
Det-Supt Rankine said two other "principals" were already in custody for unrelated matters.
He said nine of the 10 principals accused of the robberies were Aboriginal, Indigenous leaders were working with police to bring them to justice and end the recruitment of younger members to the gang.
The crime spree began on September 3 at the Challa Gardens Hotel.
Other robberies police connected to the gang included the Sussex Hotel, Cash Converters Kilkenny, Ashford TAB, Adelaide Exchange Jewellers, Jackpots on Pulteney St, the Eagles Bar and Bistro and British Hotel.
A home invasion at Seaton last month in which children aged about 10 and 14 were part of a group which used a gun and a knife to terrorise a family also has been linked to the suspects and their young associates.
"We believe they have a network of friends and associates who are protecting them and hiding them and I certainly urge those people to resist doing that in future," Det-Supt Rankine said.
He warned anyone helping the group could also face charges and said one of the group and associates were believed to be hiding in Ceduna.
Ceduna Mayor Allan Suter said there was no place in his small, peaceful community for violent offenders and called for them to turn themselves in.
"I don't doubt that the police here will be very quickly on their tails," he told The Advertiser yesterday.
"It's a fairly small community and they shouldn't have much trouble locating (them) if they are known and at large. Of course I would encourage them to turn themselves in immediately.
"Our crime statistics are extraordinarily low at the moment and we'd like to keep it that way.
"We've got a very good Neighbourhood Watch group and we get a lot of support from right around the town."
He said the group also recruited associates who accompanied them on robberies and home invasions.
"We've connected a whole lot of other crimes including dangerous driving and driving offences, serious criminal trespass and two home invasions, one at Seaton and one at Prospect," he said.
Det-Supt Rankine said the net was closing as police joined forces in Operation Dimension.
Patrols are carrying UV lights to check for dye sprayed on the robbers at the Eagles Bar and Bistro.
"We also have every patrol out there 24/7 looking for these offenders," he said.
"Along with members of Operation Mandrake we've been able to source a great deal of information and we also have a very good relationship and partnership with the Australian Hotels Association, various community groups, both Aboriginal and otherwise and individual members of the community endeavouring to bring this crime series to a stop."
Det Supt Rankine said police had made a positive DNA match on two of the gang involved in robberies at the Challa Gardens Hotel in Kilkenny and the North Adelaide Post Office last month.
"We believe we are close to apprehending the principal offenders," he said.
"The main core group are known to Operation Mandrake and still are Mandrake persons of interest.
"One of those identified by DNA evidence this morning has been on the Mandrake list for some time as well."
He said the principal offenders had been part of the group 10 or 15 years ago and appeared to have graduated to leadership position on a "cyclical" basis.
Police Minister Michael Wright was positive that key members would soon be caught, but urged the courts to refuse bail.
"People in the type of situation we are talking about shouldn't be given bail - that's a personal opinion - we are talking about cowardly activities, we are talking about thugs, we are talking about scum. Those people don't deserve bail," he said.
He also warned that people hiding suspects would also be prone to charges.
"These people are known to police and the net on them is closing. Police have advised me these people are being hidden and may I remind those people - if that is the case - they may be charged as well," he said.
"The police have advised me there is no additional resoueces required, that they have ample resources at their call to ensure these people will be apprehended."
Mr Wright said the "transient" operation was based around one key person and another six people who were yet to be caught.