The first thing you notice about Victoria’s “most unsafe” shopping centre is the men dressed in matching blue polo shirts and cream khakis.

They’re everywhere on a rainy Thursday as late night shoppers descend on Fountain Gate, an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

Four security guards follow two youths outside the centre before a short conversation takes place, one that feels like it’s been had before.

“You’re going to have to find a new centre,” a guard tells two youths no older than 17. “It’s going to happen.”

Security has been bolstered in the last week after concerns from retailers that youth gangs were running riot in Narre Warren.

In March, teenage girls attacked a young worker during a brazen robbery inside the centre and got away with the shop’s takings — roughly $5000.

In April, there were two more similar incidents. In the first, a 14-year-old boy was attacked and robbed by six teens. Less than two weeks later, a woman was attacked by six teenage girls.

The Cranbourne Leader reported last month that traders “are too terrified to try and stop gangs of teens raiding their shops and wreaking havoc”. The newspaper called the shopping centre the “most unsafe in Melbourne”.

But when news.com.au asked centre management to explain why the young men were escorted out of the centre on Thursday night, or to comment on recent violence, the response was stock standard.

A spokeswoman for Scentre Group told news.com.au: “The safety and security of our customers, retail partners and employees is always our priority.

“As a social hub and meeting point in the local community, Westfield Fountain Gate strives to ensure all our customers feel welcome, comfortable and safe when visiting,” the spokeswoman said.

“Every situation is different and our experienced teams make decisions on how to manage situations on a case-by-case basis — always with the safety of our customers in mind.

“We work closely with local authorities, including Police and emergency services, as needed.”

Safety is the priority, but it is not always achieved.

Retail workers who spoke to news.com.au said the number of incidents in the centre was on the rise.

“It’s never been this bad,” one employee from the centre’s busy bottom level said. “It’s far too common and there’s nothing anyone seems to be doing to stop it.”

Another worker said teens get away with menacing workers with warnings and keep coming back.

An employee at a fast food restaurant in the centre’s food court said the problem is stemming from a lack of other activities in the area. She said young people have little else to do except go to the shops, and when they get there they amuse themselves by taunting staff.

On Facebook, a casual staff member from the centre wrote that the outside of the centre “is scary after dark”.

“I have seen people that have been downright rude and abusive towards others,” she wrote.

“Fountain Gate was kinda (sic) safe once but not now. There needs to be security around the bus area from first bus to the last.”

One shopper said he had to intervene when a young man grabbed a young woman outside Pancake Parlour.

“His gang of 10-12 stood around and watched,” the man said.

“Being with my own partner, my wires were sparking that he thought he had the right to lay hands on someone like that. I stormed in and every one of them stepped back, including the Westfield security guard who was chatting away with one of the other youths.

“Something needs to be done. It’s beyond a joke.”

Fountain Gate is not the only place youths are causing trouble in the region. In Berwick, a six-minute drive from the shopping centre, youths crashed a 16th birthday party last Friday, where they bashed and robbed several teenagers.

A teenage boy was punched to the ground then kicked in the body and the face by as many as seven youths. His father, Ian, told Melbourne’s 3AW that the teens were of African appearance and surrounded his son as he was trying to leave.

“They started hitting him and knocked him to the ground. While he was on the ground they started kicking him,” Ian said.

“They stomped on his head. He managed to get up to his feet again and he was king-hit and knocked unconscious.

“They were dragging him along the concrete. One of the gang members stole his Nike runners.”

Another parent called a local radio station to describe what happened. She said a good friend was collecting her teenage son from the party when she witnessed the same youths attacking a teenage girl.

“She got out the car, left the door open, ran screaming at them to leave the child alone.”

At Fountain Gate, security has been increased to deal with the most recent concerns. It’s needed, as shoppers consider taking their business elsewhere.

Continue the conversation: rohan.smith1@news.com.au | @ro_smith