10 hours ago
Gang of wayward youths caught on camera destroying local restaurant
A devastated shopkeeper has revealed the grim reality of being terrorised by eshays for year after year, as damning new footage emerges of the teenage gangs in action.
Tasmanian business owner Sam Fu, who owns Bento Glenorchy in Hobart, revealed how he had been targeted in repeated attacks on his premises in recent years.
The attacks have seen booths in his restaurant wrecked by the young hoodlums who then tried to set a bathroom on fire using hand sanitiser and toilet paper, and frequently smash his front window.
In another incident in the town, an elderly woman in a wheelchair was pushed down an escalator by the teenage thugs, who locals say are armed with tasers, knives, hammers and screwdrivers.
Even buses aren't safe from the lawless reign of terror, with drivers now instructed not to accept cash after repeated hold-ups for the petty sums they carried.
The nightmare has now seen some locals take matters into their own hands, with one resident punching one of the kids in the face - but locals face the wrath of the courts if they fight back.
Mr Fu's shocking video footage showed several teenagers storming his Japanese restaurant on several occasions to menace his young female staff.
The out-of-control teens were seen fighting and vandalising a booth at the back of the diner, stealing drinks and hurling abuse and even a wooden spoon at staff.
The footage showed one child carrying a long stick - which appeared to be a broomstick handle - concealed down the leg of his jogger pants.
Mr Fu also shared pictures of an incident in which one local youth destroyed his bathroom when they set alight hand sanitiser and toilet paper.
The shocking images come after Daily Mail Australia revealed that Glenorchy, just north of Hobart's CBD, is besieged by youth eshay gangs.
The subculture is characterised by groups of boys and young men who revel in their anti-social behaviour, crossbody bags, and distinctive hairstyles and fashion.
Glenorchy eshays appear to especially enjoy harassing vulnerable people including women, girls, the elderly, and shopkeepers.
Locals are living in fear of the children, some as young as ten, with one child recently suspected of carrying a stun gun.
Another recounted how an elderly wheelchair-bound woman suffering from multiple sclerosis was pushed down an escalator in the local shopping mall.
The terrifying incident left her in hospital for weeks recovering from severe injuries.
The youths congregate within Glenorchy's town square and bus mall, and in recent days bus drivers have been told not to carry money in their drawers or accept cash fares to reduce the risk of the kids trying to steal the loose change.
Security patrols the area, with checks increasing from 3pm when most of the problematic behaviour begins.
Mr Fu is so sick of the kids destroying his business that he shared the CCTV footage with Daily Mail Australia to bring national attention to the town's eshay siege.
In many videos, he can be seen attempting to reason with the youths but to no avail.
Particularly harrowing footage showed several eshays brawling in a red booth at the rear of his premises, resulting in damaged chairs and wallpaper.
He has removed several booths after years of vandalism, and revealed he has to frequently replace his glass windows after kids smash them.
'The windows cost $800 to replace every time, and it has driven the insurance premiums up,' he said.
Sam revealed that in 2022, 'a kid went into the toilet and put hand sanitiser on toilet paper and lit it up'.
It resulted in huge damage to the bathroom, which was blackened with smoke.
The fearless eshays play up to their notoriety, and are often heard gleefully telling local security guards that they 'can't touch them'.
One fed-up patron of Bento Glenorchy recently retaliated against the vandals.
'One of the kids here was being a nuisance, so a man punched him,' Sam said.
A local council worker, who asked not to be named, said other locals have been taking matters into their own hands.
'The little buggers will steal things, make a mess, and laugh at security guards because [the kids] know they can't do anything,' said the source.
'As soon as the guards put their hands on the kids, they shout about 'child abuse'.
'But one day a member of the public was in the food court watching this and he said, 'They might not be able to do anything, but I can'. And he punched the kid.
'It's not good. Innocent people are going to get hurt.'
Local worker Tina, 52, said she fears for her safety when she knocks off from work and needs to catch a bus home.
She said the young people approach her in the bus mall and ask for money or cigarettes.
On one occasion, they asked if they could come home with her and attempted to board her bus home.
On Monday, a group of young boys were heard screaming vile comments at passing teenage girls, calling them 's***s'.
Some locals were quick to note that things had improved 'slightly' recently, due in part to the cooler winter weather keeping kids indoors, but also a recently launched Tasmania Police taskforce.
Taskforce Respect is a new community campaign involving high-visibility patrols in Glenorchy.
Inspector Jason Klug said officers are targeting recidivist offenders and anti-social behaviour, with police data showing just 57 people made up 50 per cent of youth crime charges across the state in 2024.
'Our message to these people is simple - if you are offending in the Glenorchy area, then we will be looking out for you,' Inspector Klug said.
'Our aim is to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment for businesses, residents and visitors.'
