AN elderly Safety Beach resident says he and his wife have been repeatedly harassed outside their home by a group of teenagers riding e-scooters and e-bikes.
Keith Horobin, who lives at Martha’s Cove with his wife, Catherine, said a group of teenagers had allegedly been banging on the couple’s windows and garage door and verbally abusing them.
On 6 September, Horobin was sitting in his living room watching television when he heard banging on the window.
“I thought, what the hell is that?” said Horobin.
He said there were six teenage boys outside his window, whom he estimated to be between 13 and 17 years old.
Horobin said when he went outside to speak to them, they began swearing at him.
“I said I’ll shut the shutters and just close everything up and they’ll go away, and the next thing I hear is banging on the garage door,” said Horobin.
“My wife and I went to talk to them, and they told her to go and get f***ed.”
Horobin said he contacted security and the police following the incident.
Three days later, he was sitting in his office when he heard banging on the window again.
“I looked outside, and there they were, six of them,” said Horobin.
Horobin said the group were all riding e-bikes or e-scooters, wearing hoodies, and performing wheelies.
He said security attended the property but told him they were not permitted to physically intervene.
Horobin said he reported both incidents to Rosebud Police, who confirmed they are in the process of investigating the two incidents.
Horobin said the repeated incidents have been distressing for him and his wife.
“It’s tough,” said Horobin.
“I’ve turned 85 last week, and my wife’s just in the first stage of dementia. She was crying her eyes out, and we’ve done nothing.”
Horobin also raised concerns about teenagers riding on e-bikes and e-scooters at high speeds without helmets.
Victoria Police says e-scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet, and travel at no more than 20km/h.
E-bike riders can be any age, but legal e-bikes must have a maximum continuous rated power output of no more than 250 watts and motor assistance that cuts off at 25 km/h.
Victoria’s rules require well-fitted helmets to be worn when riding bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, or human-powered scooters.
In July, police on the peninsula began using drones to help identify offenders on motorcycles, e-bikes, and trail bikes (“Police on track to stopping bike hoons”, The News, 27/07/26).
Police encourage members of the public to report any dangerous riding.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
