Eiresol Style

THREE Illawarra men accused of posting images of their graffiti rampage on the internet website YouTube have been arrested in the state’s latest rail vandalism sting.

Police raided homes in Berkeley, Dapto and Albion Park yesterday, seizing items including computers, computer discs, street and RailCorp signs, photos and clothing. The three men are accused of vandalising countless numbers of South Coast trains and allegedly posting footage of their activities on the video-sharing website YouTube.

The damage, which allegedly includes graffiti and smashing windows of train carriages, is believed to have left a repair bill of more than $100,000.

About 7.20am yesterday police swooped on homes in Whimbrel Ave, Berkeley, arresting a 20-year-old man, an address in Dapto, where an 18-year-old man was arrested, and at Albion Park where another 18-year-old man was arrested. Lake Illawarra Police Chief Inspector Wayne O’Keefe said a samurai sword and another unidentified weapon were also seized from one of the properties. Each man was charged with two counts of malicious damage, entering railway property, and possessing spray paint with the intent to damage.

The Berkeley and Albion Park men were bailed to appear at Sutherland Local Court on March 8 and the Dapto man will appear at Wollongong Local Court on March 6.Yesterday’s arrests follow the charging of a 16-year-old Dapto youth last month.

He faces five charges of malicious damage for alleged damage to railway property. The teenager will next appear at Port Kembla Children’s Court on February 27. In Sydney, Transport and Police Minister John Watkins hailed the South Coast arrests as a breakthrough in the fight against railway vandalism. Commuter Crime Squad Inspector Chris Keen, also speaking in Sydney, said investigations into the vandalism began after footage was seen on YouTube.

“They do like to, at times, display to their mates (on the internet) but it makes our work as far as investigating them a lot simpler.”

Footage of men damaging RailCorp property was posted on YouTube by a group calling themselves SHUREfilms. The same group also uploaded footage of street racing cars and vandalism at other Illawarra businesses.

Police have not linked the men arrested yesterday with all the SHUREfilms footage. Police have not ruled out further charges.