LIMESTONE Coast’s top ranking police officer believes someone will be “incredibly badly hurt” if a spate of hoon driving continues to take place in Mount Gambier.
The warning comes after police witnessed around four to five cars driving at high speeds around the city’s north overnight on Wednesday.
The aftermath of the brazen activity was evidenced by tyre marks caused by burnouts on the grassed area of the Mount Gambier Revival Fellowship on Wehl Street North.
Labelling the hoon drivers as “idiots and vandals”, Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Phil Hoff said their “unconsionable behaviour” would end in someone being seriously injured or killed.
“It is only a matter of time and if it is not one of these absolute idiots doing it themselves, it is going to be an innocent member of the public or one of my staff,” he said.
“I do not know what motivates such idiocy and such disregard for people’s safety.”
Supt Hoff said some drivers in the community were deliberately baiting police in an attempt to trigger a police pursuit.
“In recent times we have had a motorcycle riding past police at break-neck speeds – probably in excess of 160kph – giving police the finger and daring us to pursue them,” Supt Hoff said.
“We are not going to do that, we will catch these people, but we are going to do it through the assistance of the community.”
A spike in hoon behaviour was first reported at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March and police appeared to get on top of the issue.
However, the problem has reared its head again in recent weeks and Supt Hoff fears it is the same culprits who have re-emerged across the community.
“We had it a few months ago, we got on top of that, but quite clearly they have re-emerged in the community once again,” he said.
“These people are such a menacing danger to the community.”
Supt Hoff called on the public to help police and tell them anything they might know, which could assist in the arrest and prosecution of the offenders.
“There are a variety of different motor vehicles involved and people must see these cars driving around and pulling into addresses,” Supt Hoff said.
“I want to know the address, I want to know who was driving, I need to know these sorts of things, so that we can go and apprehend these people in a safe manner.”
Anyone with any information in relation to hoon driving is urged to report it online at crimestopperssa.com.au or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can remain anonymous.
