Perth Voice Interactive

A 61-YEAR-OLD woman was mugged by two young girls in Maylands on Monday night.

The woman was leaving the toilets at The RISE on Eighth Avenue around 6.45pm when the girls, aged about 15 years old, pushed her to the ground and tried to snatch her bag.

She managed to keep hold of it and staggered back inside The RISE once they fled, but discovered her wallet had been taken in the scuffle.

Police officers rocked up 30 minutes later and were given CCTV images of the alleged offenders, who staff  believe left personal items at the community centre.

In recent years, Maylands traders and residents have been plagued with anti-social behaviour.

Last year Bayswater council rangers reported, “a significant increase in the number of reports relating to anti-social behaviour in and around reserves at The RISE, Grand Promenade Reserve, Halliday Park and Pat O’Hara Reserve”.

In response Bayswater mayor Terry Kenyon held a crisis summit with WA Police and local stakeholders to brainstorm an action plan.

Punch-ups

A local resident, who regularly uses The RISE’s gym, said an increased police presence curbed “punch-ups, defecating and yobbish behaviour” on the centre’s lawn late last year, but it had returned.

“Recently I saw an Indian couple going for a walk at dusk near The RISE and they got king-hit by a guy for no reason,” he said.

“Will someone have to die before something is done to tackle the problem?

“Even a local church has fenced off its grounds because of yobs camping.”

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker says the Barnett government needs to reinstate the 10 extra police officers temporarily assigned to Bayswater police station last summer.

“The latest crime statistics show crime in the suburb of Maylands has increased by an average of almost 30 per cent in the past two years,” she said.

“Just last month, two chefs from a local café were attacked when they tried to stop two people from stealing a car belonging to a staff member.

“The people of Maylands want to see a stronger and more permanent police presence in their community.”

Following the incident, Bayswater has increased security patrols around The RISE.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK