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Residents in north Dublin are considering setting up local community patrols in an effort to tackle local gangs that have been terrorising people on the streets.

A local Facebook group for crime in the Rush and Lusk areas is looking to set up a a "peaceful" patrol in an attempt to stop the gangs of 20 youths or more.

But other residents have suggested that it is time "people take the law into their own hands" due to increasing anti-social behaviour and crime in the area.

Some have suggested setting up a vigilante group as they try to tackle the increasingly dangerous behaviour.

Dublin Live has previously reported on the gangs that are terrorising residents in the Fingal area.

One incident in Rush last night saw a teen allegedly attacked by a gang of more than 20 youths who were attempting to take his phone.

The shocking incident happened outside a chip shop, with locals claiming that only two of the large gang were from the area.

While another similar incident for a phone is understood to have happened when a youngster was jumped by six of the group who then threatened to stab one of the boy's friends.

Other incidents reported locally in the area included:

A group attempting to verbally abuse a bus driver

Harassing a woman with her granddaughter as she sat in her car at the train station

Throwing a lit cigarette into a baby seat through an open car window

Calls have been made recently to re-open Rush garda station in an attempt to tackle the growing gang problem in north Dublin.

Local TD Darragh O'Brien has also called for increased Garda resources in the north Dublin area and the return to 24/7 opening hours at Malahide Garda Station.

Last week, he said: "From my information, it tends to be the same people - some repeat offenders - carrying out these very serious assaults and robberies.

"This group of guys are pretty well know - they’re known to gardai. There have been arrests I’m glad to say since, and the guards have worked very hard to identify those who were involved.

"The whole area that covers Swords, Malahide, Balbriggan, Lusk, Rush, Skerries and the rural area - we’re down about 20 per cent in Garda strength over the last six or seven years.

(Image: Collins Photo Agency)

"Community gardai have been reduced drastically as well.

"So we have an issue where gardai are trying to do their job basically with one hand tied behind their backs because they don’t have the resources that they need, which is disgraceful, because Dublin North is not getting the garda numbers they need to police this growing area."

A meeting was recently held in Malahide following several incidents involving teens being mugged and also rural crime that saw two farmers being savagely beaten by crooks.

The areas of Portmarnock and Donabate have also been terrorised in recent months.

In one terrifying incident a gang thug threw a bottle at a pregnant woman's face and then said "I'll cut the baby out of you and chop it up" after she tried to stop him mugging a young boy.