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Newton's crime woes far from over, residents say

Teen was pepper-sprayed on Wednesday, robbed and beaten
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A 19-year-old Surrey man was pepper-sprayed, robbed and beaten on his way home in Newton last week.

The young man, described by some who known him as a "gamer" and a "nice kid" was on his way home at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 17), when he was confronted by a group of thugs near a park at 141 Street and 68 Avenue.

They demanded his money.

He gave them his wallet and they took his phone as well. They then pepper-sprayed him and beat him up.

His mother called police half an hour later.

Police say the group of attackers were described as Caucasian. Otherwise the description was vague.

The victim's injuries are believed to be superficial as he did not need medical care.

There was also an unconfirmed report of a woman hit on the head with a rock and robbed on the same day, just outside the Safeway near 72 Avenue and 138 Street.

"It was mid-afternoon," tweeted Chris Topher, who said the victim was his aunt.

"Hard to believe it's that bad with a police station right there," Topher tweeted.

He said his aunt is going to be okay and is just trying to shrug it off.

"Thing that bothers me," he said, "someone else might have heard or seen. Where was the help?"

Police said there has been no report of this attack.

Naida Robinson, a community activist in Newton, says the level of violence in the area hasn't abated since the murder of Julie Paskall, the hockey mom who was fatally beaten outside Newton Ice Arena last year.

"It's beyond out of control," Robinson told The Leader. "I hear something every day. I am not exaggerating."

The ongoing violence in Newton is one of the reasons crime and public safety became major issues in the election campaign.

Surrey First, which won all seats on council, has budgeted for 100 more RCMP officers to be hired by next October.

It's hoped the more "boots on the ground" will quell the violence in Newton.