One of the Hells Angels newest chapters is homeless after being evicted from its third clubhouse - and police are warning possible futur...
One of the Hells Angels newest chapters is homeless after being evicted from its third clubhouse - and police are warning possible future landlords to do their homework.
The Darkside chapter, based on the Mornington Peninsula at Seaford, opened with significant fanfare in 2013, but has since been shunted from industrial estate to industrial estate.
Landlords, with the support of police, have evicted the club three times in the past 18 months.
Hells Angels clubrooms in Patrick Court, Seaford were raided in 2013. Photo: Wayne Hawkins
The chapter had been viewed as strategically important to the gang. It was near a Bandidos chapter and the clubs were then embroiled in what police feared would become an "all-out war".
Melbourne's south-east and the peninsula were also being eyed by the Rock Machine - the Hells Angels' most bitter international rival - and the Comancheros also had a presence in the area.
To further underline its significance, Darkside was the first Hells Angels clubhouse opened in 11 years, and the only one of their four chapters that was south of Melbourne's CBD.
But, after police served a warrant of possession on their Peninsula Boulevard clubhouse about 9.30am on Tuesday, it is a chapter without a home.
The club was shifted from Patrick Court, their first home, about 18 months ago.
The small industrial building in a quiet estate had been the scene of a wild official opening party in June, 2013, and the scene of a drive-by shooting later that year.
Detectives later discovered the shooting was probably committed by a Hells Angel, in a bid to fool them into believing several gangs were in possession of high-powered weapons.
The Darkside chapter moved to Milne Avenue, just around the corner, in mid-2014. But it is believed they only lasted about six months before they were booted from their new digs.
About a year ago, the club shifted to the other side of the Frankston Freeway, before they were evicted again on Tuesday.
Police urged property owners to thoroughly check potential tenants, by meeting them several times, ensuring their documents are genuine and vetting them on social media.
"A thorough vetting of potential tenants could prevent future heartache for property owners," a police spokesman said.
"A little bit of investigation may prevent lost income and disruption in the future."
It has not been a good year for the Darkside chapter.
In January, the chapter president Mohammad Khodr was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for selling more than $220,000 worth of the drug ice to undercover police.
