"Police have been monitoring the group for several months now and Wayward Taskforce are confident they know the identity of the majority, if not all, BDK members.
"BDK is comprised of African-Australian males, aged 14 to 17 years old. Police have arrested a number of teenagers linked to BDK in the past few weeks."
Police would not reveal exactly how many teenagers linked to BDK had been arrested, other than to say a number of teenagers had been charged with robbery and affray offences.
At least one 17-year-old boy, who is believed to be linked to BDK, was arrested following a Christmas Eve brawl on Alfrieda Street in St Albans that left one man in hospital with a laceration to his forehead.
On social media some of the juvenile gang members refer to themselves as "Baby Apex" and "blood brothers" and share online links to recent criminal behaviour.
They also appear to have heavy ties with MTS members who have been responsible for violent carjackings, home invasions and robberies in areas including Tarneit, Altona and Sunshine.
However, members of BDK are said to be less organised than MTS and Apex members who are older and larger in number.
It is understood their online activity dates back to November.
It comes as detectives appeal for the help to identify young people believed to be responsible for assaults and robberies at Chelsea beach last week.
Police patrol Chelsea beach after a string of crime last week.Credit:Eddie Jim
Investigators said a number of swimmers were in the water when a group approached their unattended belongings on the beach.
A male swimmer confronted the males and was assaulted before they fled taking mobile phones and wallets.
A short time later the group approached three men and assaulted a 28-year-old man and stole his mobile phone.
Another man was later struck in the head with a glass bottle and assaulted with a plastic cricket bat and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The offenders were perceived to be African in appearance and aged in their late teens or early 20’s.
It is not clear if any BDK members are linked to the assaults at Chelsea beach.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 0000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.
More to come.
Erin covers crime for The Age. Most recently she was a police reporter at the Geelong Advertiser.
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