Thirteen teens face dozens of charges in a rash of violent attacks targeting Western and Fanshawe students but the investigation is far from over, police say.

The brazen assaults, robberies and thefts first started near Fanshawe College in early October and spread to the area around Western University in November.

Police on Tuesday announced that 10 males and three females, ranging in age from 14 to 18, are charged with more than 40 offences stemming from four incidents that left seven people injured.

“We’ve done a considerable amount of investigation and we’re far from done,” Det. Staff Sgt. Blair Harvey said.

“We really ramped things up and connected the dots in a big way.”

The problem first landed on the police radar on Oct. 8, when a group of teens approached a vehicle near Fanshawe College and assaulted two females and a male, spraying one with pepper spray.

Six days later, video surveillance captured several people assaulting and pepper spraying an unidentified person near the main entrance to Fanshawe College. Investigators are urging the person who was attacked to contact police.

On Nov. 4, a group entered a business at 1175 Wonderland Rd. N. and assaulted two workers, leaving them with minor injuries.

Four days later, two males were fighting near 110 Grand Ave. when five others jumped in and attacked one of them while he was on the ground. The male was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The 13 people charged face a range of offences, including assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, theft under $5,000, administering a noxious substance and creating a disturbance.

Twelve of the accused cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Fanshawe Student Union president Morganna Sampson applauded police, while expressing concern about students being targeted.

“It’s really upsetting that that’s happening right in our neighbourhood,” Sampson said.

“I’m really glad that they (police) are doing something to crack down on these crimes because we need safety on our campuses.”

For Harvey, the brazen nature of the crimes is the most concerning part.

“This group has done virtually nothing to conceal their identities,” he said.

Although the street crimes unit handled the nearly two-month probe, none of the accused appears to have any gang affiliations, Harvey said.

“But there’s no question that they’re all part of the same social group,” Harvey added.

Investigators say the incidents are connected to three violent attacks reported to police this fall.

On Oct. 9, roommates at a Thurman Circle house spotted an intruder armed with what appeared to be a handgun emerging from their basement. The residents, who later discovered property had been stolen from a bedroom, followed the suspect outside, where they were assaulted by a mob of young men. A 17-year-old male was charged in the Thurman Circle incident.

A similar incident was reported to police just hours later on Fleming Drive, a nearby street populated almost entirely by Fanshawe students.

On Nov. 4, two uninvited females entered a home on Patricia Street, near Western, and assaulted a resident when told to leave. A large group then forced their way into the home and a fight broke out. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived.

Police issued a public warning to Fanshawe and Western students following the incidents, advising them to keep their doors and windows locked.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

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