how bad is this

[cods]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newsl ... f178f65596

RATBAG’ firebugs draped in an Australian flag have been captured on camera destroying bee hives belonging to an 82-year-old man.

Ted Romer’s family have called the men “ratbags” and the crime, which happened in the early hours after Australia Day, “disappointing”.

As many as 120,000 bees are thought to have been killed after arsonists set fire to the two hives in Terrey Hills, which is located in Sydney’s northern beaches.

Mr Romer had cared for honey bees, including collecting honey, for more than 15 years.

And while he built the hives himself, they typically cost around $600 each to set up.
He’s now waiting to see if the queen bees — essential to each hive — were killed too.

Three young men were captured on CCTV setting the hives alight. One had an Australian flag tied around his neck.

Mr Romer said: “They burned two of them (the hives) to the ground — they’ve covered them in cardboard and lit them. The bees couldn't get out, it’s a charred mess.

“They’re larrikins. I wish I had been able to talk some sense into them.”

The hives are kept at family firm, Watermaid on Tepko Rd, an industrial estate between Myoora and Booralie Rds.

The family said it was the second time the hives had been attacked. They believe the same men vandalised them last September.


The burnt bee hives.
Son Andrew Romer, 55, said: “It’s disappointing, and they were wearing the Australian flag.”

Granddaughter Tegan, 27, from Elanora Heights, has pieced together CCTV footage of the arson.

“I’m not going to leave this alone until I find out who it was and until something is done about it. I feel frustrated that these boys feel the need to be destructive,” Tegan said.

“They have escalated their behaviour from vandalism to arson and what’s next?

“I am annoyed that there are people not educating their children on how to be contributing members of society.”

It appears the men were stung by some of the bees.

A neighbour called Terrey Hills Rural Fire Brigade to the fire and police also attended.

While the damage happened around 1.30am on Saturday, the family didn’t discover the damage until Monday morning.

Neighbours alerted emergency services after hearing a “large group of males yelling in the street,” police said.

A boat on a trailer in the same street was tipped over, before the hives were targeted.

Insp George Sheppard from Northern Beaches Rural Fire Service said crews attended around 2am.

He said: “The guys found a lot of dead carcasses of bees, which is sad.”

Footage of the attack has been shared on social media, where locals have blasted the culprits.

One man said: “I’m actually disgusted watching those videos and their brazen act!”

Another commented: “It hurts to watch all those hives burn and the bees suffer.”

Another woman said: “Hope they find them all, scumbag morons!”

“Wearing the flag as a cape as they commit arson. Couldn’t be less of an Australian if they tried,” said another.

Others offered to donate to rebuild the hives.

The family will now move the hives.

Northern Beaches Local Area Command Police confirmed they were investigating.

A police spokeswoman said: “The males involved in destroying the beehive have been captured on CCTV and detectives from northern beaches are investigating.”


this is so bad...how do we deal with this type of thing? our punishments do not seem to mean anything these days...

[Black Orchid]

It was a disgusting thing to do especially in light of the declining bee population. I have to wonder why one was wearing an Australian flag? Deflection of some sort?

I think we should look more at home detention instead of jail time. Strap ankle bracelets to these types of morons and set them so that they cannot go more than 20 metres from their front doors for an EXTENDED period.

It would save space in our jails, perhaps encourage Courts to hand out harsher penalties rather than let them off with a wrist slap and it may actually deter people from doing these hideous things.

[Black Orchid]

There is a huge rabble on the Northern Beaches of a particular persuasion too ... and growing.

[Neferti]

Northern Beaches. LOL Some odd people live up that way.

A SYDNEY man has been charged with offensive behaviour as well as wilful and obscene exposure after police alleged he twice “wiggled his penis” at a fellow resident in his apartment block.

About 4.30pm on Saturday the accused man, aged in his 40s and living in Dee Why in Sydney’s northern beaches, was allegedly heard swearing and yelling while watching TV in his flat.

A fellow resident walked out to see what the noise was before the accused allegedly exposed himself to the man for about 40 seconds before pulling his shorts back up.

This was allegedly in full view of other residents.

After being advised to calm down, the man allegedly exposed himself again to the resident. Police were called and the man was later charged.

http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act ... 913b09d379

[Black Orchid]

Dee Why is starting to look like Little Lakemba. The head robe wearing bearded scruff of the Dee Why Mosque was charged with sexually assaulting 3 women not that long ago.

Not saying there is a connection ... but ...