Operation Moorhead: Police continue crackdown on Perth teenagers after seizing five illegal e-rideables

Police are continuing their crackdown on teenage hooligans, after seizing a further five illegal e-rideables from Perth’s northern suburbs. Joondalup Police on Monday launched Operation Moorhead following several “serious and violent incidents” involving youths filming themselves throwing rocks at passing cars, hurling abuse at locals and recklessly riding e-scooters and e-bikes. Several videos posted to social media show teens riding around on e-bikes and e-scooters, and tossing rocks and water balloons at passing vehicles, including at a Transperth bus. Police on Friday revealed they had since seized five more illegal e-rideables — including several e-scooters — during their patrols on Thursday. The riders were charged by summons for offences, including no authority to drive and driving an unregistered vehicle on a road. In a separate investigation, police charged a 14-year-old boy after he was caught allegedly riding an illegal e-rideable and posting about it on social media. The boy, from Hillarys, will face Perth Children’s Court at a later date. Police on Thursday revealed they had seized 11 e-rideables and charged three teenage boys — aged 14, 15 and 16 — over two separate incidents in Mindarie and Carine on Wednesday night. Officers also charged a 15-year-old boy on Wednesday for allegedly flinging rocks at cars in Padbury, before fleeing to a nearby street. As part of Operation Moorhead, drones, helicopters and CCTV towers have been deployed to known areas in the city’s northern suburbs. A police spokesperson warned those caught riding illegal e-rideables would have their devices seized and destroyed. “Police are working closely with partner agencies and local government to ensure fast and effective enforcement to target those responsible engaging in reckless and dangerous behaviour,” the spokesperson said. “Operation Moorhead reinforces WA Police’s commitment to community safety and holding offenders accountable for unlawful behaviour.”