GRAFFITI vandals are graduating to violent street crimes and armed robberies in their search for thrills

GRAFFITI vandals are graduating to violent street crimes and armed robberies in their search for thrills.
Transit safety police have charged 13 members of a gang with serious offences including armed robbery, serious assault and weapons offences.
Vandals were turning to street crime to pay for graffiti attacks, said acting Sen-Sgt Matt Volk, from the transit divisional response unit.
"Within the culture you'll have teenagers doing their low-quality tagging, and when they need money to finance their crime... some will do a low-level street robbery," he said.
"And that will progress to stealing mobile phones and might then progress to street robberies on unknown people.
"It's becoming a pattern among several of the larger graffiti groups in Melbourne."
Sen-Sgt Volk warned graffiti vandals that police would pursue them vigorously on the street and through the courts.
"We've virtually investigated, charged and dismantled this particular gang," he said.
"We will keep catching these offenders and putting them before the courts to make the public transport system safer for all users."
Gang members include:
* A 24-YEAR-OLD who was charged with burglary, unlawful assault and recklessly causing injury. He was convicted on some charges and is serving a 16-month jail sentence.
* A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who faced charges including armed robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon and assault with a weapon.
* A 15-YEAR-OLD who was charged with armed robbery, possession of a controlled weapon, assault with a weapon and intentionally causing injury. He is serving a youth supervision order.
* A 17-YEAR-OLD who was charged with offences including armed robbery, intentionally causing serious injury and assault with a weapon. He was sentenced to a 12-month youth attendance order.
Investigators said some gangs are attacking rival graffiti groups, robbing them of spray cans and graffiti paraphernalia, wallets and mobile phones.
Some vandals, armed with knives, have robbed people on the street to pay for their criminal activities.
One graffiti analyst said young vandals were being initiated into a life of crime by senior members of graffiti gangs.
"It seems to be that between the ages of 10 and 15, when they're first dipping their toe in the water, they appear to get themselves entrenched... and some will start to spiral off into other crimes," he said.