JUST months after cops claimed to have taken back control of the streets a gang of teenage thugs is once again terrorising a South Side neighbourhood.

Residents in Battlefield and Shawlands endured months of anti-social behaviour before a crack down by police ended a spate of vandalism.

Now the group is operating again... and the violence has expanded to include Govanhill.

Already thousands of pounds of damage has been caused and police said they believe it is the same culprits as earlier this year.

Inspector Alex Hutton, Gorbals Police Office, said: "We believe it is the same group to blame.

"Local residents can be confident that we are not complacent and are doing everything we can to reduce this type of crime in the community.”

The Evening Times told on Monday how popular restaurant The Bungo has been broken into three times in six months.

READ MORE: The Bungo targeted in attack by teen gang

It is joined by at least half a dozen other businesses that have been targeted in the area, including restaurants, a charity and a hairdressers.

Vandalised properties are spread across the South Side from Pollokshaws Road to Kilmarnock Road and Victoria Road to Clarkston Road.

At The Bungo three young thugs - as seen in our CCTV images - batter their way through laminated glass.

They run to check the till but find it has no cash so flee empty handed.

In an earlier raid on The Bungo, thugs took the till but dumped it in a neighbouring garden when it was found to be empty.

Co-wonder Catherine Hardy said she and staff had "had enough" of the relentless targeting of the restaurant.

Mr Hutton said police are working to deter the gang and have set up additional patrols across the area.

He said businesses had been issued with advice such as not keeping cash on the property and being alert to strangers loitering outside.

Mr Hutton said: “The local community can be reassured that our officers have been actively responding to an increase in reports of commercial property break-ins and anti-social behaviour over the past three months in the Govanhill and Shawlands areas.

READ MORE: Teen gang targets Battlefield

“There have been extra patrols in the areas to prevent, disrupt and provide reassurance to local business owners and enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible.

“Officers have been working with partners to provide crime prevention advice and consider a number of intervention methods to deal with the issue."

Earlier this year we told how thugs were causing random damage to bus shelters, phone boxes, shop and home windows, Langside College and vandalising cars.

Residents expressed frustration that the thugs were well known to locals but still operating on the streets.

Locals said they had considered setting up their own foot patrols to try to return order to their community.