Two teenagers have been charged after police warned dating app users about attacks on Perth men who have been lured to meetings and ambushed.
WA police said they were investigating incidents in which men had agreed to meet someone they connected with on a dating app, and had then been assaulted by several males while being subjected to homophobic slurs.
The incidents were "insidious", Premier Roger Cook said.
"I hope the book is thrown at these people, these are sickening acts," he said.
"We want Western Australia to be a peaceful, inclusive and safe place for everyone to live."
On Wednesday, a man aged in his 30s arrived at an address in the southern suburb of South Lakes, where a group of males verbally abused him.
They surrounded his car, damaging the boot and a side panel, and threw rocks which smashed the windscreen as he drove away, police said.
A short time later, another man aged in his 30s was subjected to a similar attack at the same location and was robbed of his jacket and car.
The man sustained a large laceration to his elbow and bruising to his back and ribs.
A 15-year-old Hilton youth and a 16-year-old South Lake youth will appear in Perth Children’s Court on Thursday charged with aggravated armed robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, criminal damage or destruction of property, and stealing a motor vehicle.
Detective Inspector Matt Froude said there was no place for such targeted violence in the community.
“Anyone who has been engaging in this kind of behaviour should be expecting WA police officers to come through their door,” he said.
“While incidents of this nature are rare, we treat them with the utmost seriousness and we encourage victims to come forward so we can investigate.”
Some of the assaults had been filmed and posted to social media.
Detective Inspector Froude said everyone had a right to meet new people and start a relationship, but he urged dating app users to arrange meetings in public, well-lit places with plenty of people around.
“Let your family and friends know where you are going and who you are arranging to meet,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online via www.crimestopperswa.com.au.
