Western Australia Police have ramped up their crackdown on dangerous and anti-social behaviour involving teenagers and illegal electric rideables in Perth's northern suburbs, seizing more devices and laying further charges.
Expanded Blitz on Reckless Behaviour
Joondalup Police launched Operation Moorhead on Monday, 5 January 2026, in response to a series of serious incidents. Authorities were alerted to videos circulating on social media showing youths engaging in violent acts. These included throwing rocks and water balloons at passing vehicles, such as a Transperth bus, and verbally abusing residents while recklessly riding e-scooters and e-bikes.
The operation's intensity increased throughout the week. Following patrols on Thursday, police confirmed the seizure of five additional illegal e-rideables, which included several e-scooters. The riders were issued summons for offences like driving without authority and operating an unregistered vehicle on a road.
Multiple Teenagers Face Court
This latest confiscation follows significant action earlier in the week. On Wednesday night, officers seized 11 e-rideables and charged three teenage boys aged 14, 15, and 16 over separate incidents in the suburbs of Mindarie and Carine.
In a related but separate investigation, a 14-year-old boy from Hillarys was charged after he was allegedly caught riding an illegal e-rideable and posting about it on social media. He is scheduled to face the Perth Children’s Court at a later date.
Further illustrating the scope of the problem, a 15-year-old boy was charged on Wednesday for allegedly throwing rocks at cars in Padbury before fleeing the scene.
High-Tech Enforcement and Stern Warning
To combat these ongoing issues, Operation Moorhead is utilising advanced surveillance technology. Police have deployed drones, helicopters, and CCTV towers in known hotspot areas across the northern suburbs.
A police spokesperson issued a clear warning, stating that those caught riding illegal e-rideables will have their devices seized and destroyed. The spokesperson emphasised that police are working with partner agencies and local government for rapid enforcement.
"Operation Moorhead reinforces WA Police’s commitment to community safety and holding offenders accountable for unlawful behaviour," the spokesperson said.
