Detective surge

By Lia Bichel
CRANBOURNE detectives will relocate to Narre Warren police station as part of a new plan to combat rising crime in Casey.
According to statistics released from Victoria Police, overall crime in Casey has dived five per cent in the last year, but theft of cars, theft from cars, residential burglaries and reported assaults are on the rise.
Acting Inspector Bruce Kitchen said Casey police had and were continuing to implement a variety of strategies in an effort to tackle these issues.
“We are undergoing a massive renovation within the complex, moving the CI unit to Narre Warren within four months which will allow team members to work in a more co-ordinated approach,” he said.
“We have also introduced a crime management model, which consists of dedicated teams concentrating on specific offences.” Victoria Police are also strategising to combat theft from cars, which is not only a rising issue in Casey, but a statewide problem.
At the end of April, they will issue a crime prevention leaflet which will be distributed with the VicRoads registration renewal notices. The leaflet will remind people to remove all valuables from their unoccupied car.
Casey residents should also take proper precautions to ensure they prevented theft from their cars, Act Ins Kitchen said.
“Strategies residents can put in place include locking their car, parking in a well lit area or under a streetlight or sensor light, installing an anti-theft device, alarm or steering lock,” he said.
Act Isp Kitchen said residents should also liaise with Neighbourhood Watch to help combat Casey crime.
Though some criminal activity is on the rise; robberies, property-damage, and non-residential burglaries in Casey have decreased in the past year.
Robbery has dropped from 92 cases from April 2007 to March 2008 to 77 cases from April 2008 to March 2009.
Property damage has decreased 4.4 per cent, and non-residential burglaries have plummeted 21.8 per cent.