Residents stood guard out front
PARENTS of young children kept awake by roaming drunk youths last Saturday night in Gracemere, stood their ground.
Cara Robertson and Christy Austin had nine children aged three months to 11 years in the house at the time.
They, and their neighbours, stood out the front of their homes to protect them as the youths loitered down the street, swearing, fighting and throwing bottles.
"They were walking everywhere," Christy said.
"The youngest person we saw was eight years old."
Cara said she was more scared they would damage her car, than attack her personally.
"I ended up having to move it around the back because of all the kids," she said.
Neighbour Trystan, who did not want to be identified further, said there was a massive catfight at one point.
"A chunk of hair was pulled out of somebody's head," she said.
"We felt we had to protect the property because people were filtering on to the lawn, fighting and causing a ruckus."
Trystan said four or five girls were put into a paddy wagon at one stage because they were kicking and swearing at police.
She said one bloke was tackled to the ground by three police officers.
Trystan said as soon as police left the street, another fight broke out, and police were back within minutes to break it up.
She said this went on for some time.
Another neighbour said cars with P plates were driving around, and once, there was a van full of kids pulled up in the street.
