Geraldton detectives investigate knife threat, attempted stealing of 12-year-old girl’s electric scooter

A 12-year-old girl who regularly rides to school is warning others to stay safe and share their location after she claims a knife was pulled on her when a group of men attempted to steal her e-scooter last week. Champion Bay Senior High School student Hayley Gilchrist was riding her electric scooter to school about 8.30am last Wednesday when a frightening encounter left her shocked. She said she was stopped by a group of four or five men unknown to her near the Adams Store on Pass Street. Hayley said the group of men, believed to be in their 20s, demanded she hand over her scooter. Hayley said they told her there would be trouble if she refused, with one of the men brandishing a knife. Hayley told them she would hand over the scooter after school and rode off safely, back home to tell her mum Tamara. “They didn’t look sober, they were mumbling and tripping over themselves and stuff,” Hayley said. “They stopped me and said, ‘look, you need to give me your electric scooter’, and I was like, “oh, no, can you please move? I need to get to school. “Then they’re like, ‘look, if you give it to me now, there’s not going to be a problem, or you can give it to me after school, and there will be a problem’ . . . when he said there will be a problem, he ripped out a knife.” Hayley described the knife as “pretty large” with a metallic-green resin handle. The Year 7 student is encouraging young people to be vigilant and let someone know where they were “at all times for safety”. “I’m surprised, it’s kind of unsettling, too,” Hayley said. “Always keep your (phone) location on, or always let someone know where you’re going, just for safety reasons, in case anything does happen.” Geraldton detectives are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online via crimestoppers.wa.com.au. Footage can be uploaded at wapf.au.evidence.com/.../public/310724091515691. No charges have been laid.