Exclusive footage has captured the moment a group of teenagers ambushed a bottle shop in Sydney’s Upper North Shore, leaving an undercover senior police officer hospitalised after being bashed with a glass bottle.
The ordeal unfolded just before 8pm on July 8, when five heavily disguised teenagers allegedly “swarmed” a BWS bottle shop in Gordon.
The senior police officer was hospitalised as a result of the scuffle with the youngsters. 9News
The shoplifting trend of “swarming” is rising in popularity among youth and consists of a large group ambushing a store before fleeing with stolen goods.
However, the alleged thieves were not expecting an undercover police officer roaming the store to spring into action.
A frantic altercation ensued, leaving the senior cop hospitalised after one of the children allegedly smashed him over the head with a bottle.
Police Association president Kevin Morton called the footage “confronting” to watch.
“Our officer was seriously injured, but it could have been so much worse,” he said.
“He could have been killed.”
Four of the teens were released without charge, which has left the Police Association pushing for answers.
“They don’t have to admit guilt, they get a caution, and sometimes we see quite often that they will post about it on social media,” Morton said.
The fifth boy who allegedly assaulted the officer was arrested on Tuesday and was charged with four offences, including assaulting police and resisting arrest.
The officers had been in the area monitoring bottle shops following a recent wave of swarming, with police believing teenagers are being recruited through social media.
“It was great work by our police officers. We have seen some of these offences,” Morton said.
Police Association president Kevin Morton called the footage “confronting” to watch. 9News
“These swarming offences [are] where juveniles go into a premises, overwhelm the shop owners [and] take what they can.”
The experienced officer returned to work on Tuesday.
The boy accused of the assault faced Children’s Court on Wednesday he was granted bail and will be back in court next month.