There's growing calls for a string of dating app attacks in Invercargill to be treated as a hate crime.

Two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds have been charged with aggravated burglary, after four alleged incidents in which people were lured to secluded locations through dating apps and attacked.

YouBeYou founder Gordy Lockhart says it appears to be a targeted attack, taking advantage of gay men's vulnerability.

He explained the LGBT community are typically more alone, have less family and support networks - and have to meet people in places like parks.

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