A 14-year-old boy has been charged with multiple offences after police allegedly caught him throwing water balloons at passing cars in Perth's northern suburbs.
Alleged Attacks and Seized E-Rideable
Western Australia Police allege the teenager targeted moving traffic on five separate occasions. During the incident, officers also confiscated a non-compliant e-rideable the youth was allegedly riding. The device has been seized and is scheduled for destruction.
Photographs released by authorities show dozens of small, pre-filled water balloons hidden inside a bag, which police say demonstrates clear intent. "The images clearly demonstrate the intent of the youth involved and the risks posed to motorists," a police spokesperson stated.
Serious Charges and Police Operation
The teenager now faces several driving-related charges, along with five counts of causing fear or alarm to the driver of a conveyance. This specific offence carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a $36,000 fine.
This arrest is part of Operation Moorhead, a crackdown launched earlier this month in response to a series of serious incidents involving youths. Acting Inspector Scott Gillis described the trend of posting such reckless behaviour on social media as "disturbing".
"Not only are they reckless riding, but damaging cars, riding recklessly in the vicinity of pedestrians and directing aggressive behaviour towards members of the public," Inspector Gillis said.
Wider Crackdown on Dangerous Behaviour
The operation comes just days after police revealed they had already seized 36 illegal e-rideables and charged 25 children. Authorities are using drones, helicopters, and mobile CCTV towers in known hotspot areas, including coastal strips, fast-food outlets, and car parks.
Police have issued a stern warning about the dangers of throwing any object at vehicles. "Any object being thrown at a car is incredibly dangerous. We don't know how people are going to react... they could swerve and have a serious crash," Inspector Gillis emphasised.
He confirmed that all confiscated e-rideables, believed to be purchased online, are being crushed. "If you have your e-rideable out in the community, we are going to find you and we are going to seize it, and it will be crushed," he warned.
