Shots fired

By Callan Date
TWO shootings in four weeks within Casey has residents and business operators fearing for their safety.
Police are hunting gunmen from two separate incidents in Hallam and Berwick that resulted in bullets being fired into a factory and house.
The latest attack occurred last Friday when shots were fired at the Redi Milk Australia factory in Hallam.
A large glass window of the Rimfire Drive premises was shattered during the shooting, which took place sometime between 7.15pm on 16 March and 1.45am the following morning.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, but believe a high-powered shotgun may have been used.
No-one was injured during the shooting but the repair bill for the damage is expected to be about $3500.
The incident happened only a month after a Berwick house was sprayed with bullets during a drive-by shooting.
On that occasion six shots were fired into a Golf Links Road house while the five occupants, including two children under the age of one, slept inside.
A bullet was found lodged in one of the child’s bedrooms.
Police believe a semi-automatic pistol was used in the Berwick shooting, which was described by detectives as being “not a random attack”.
Police are continuing their investigations into both shootings but are not treating the incidents as linked.
Narre Warren Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Wilcox said crime scene investigators were unable to determine the exact number of shots fired at the Hallam factory.
He said a dark coloured Ford Falcon XC station wagon was seen in the vicinity at the time, and its occupants may be able to help police with their investigations.
“The shots were fired from the street. We are still looking at fragments to see how many shots were fired,” Det Sen Sgt Wilcox said.
A spokesman from Redi Milk declined to comment about the shooting.
However, the attack has sparked Albert Blashki, who owns a business in the Hallam Industrial Estate, to continue his call for 24-hour security patrols and more video surveillance throughout the area.
He has been pushing for security for the past four years.
“That’s why we are trying to get this thing off the ground. The security could stamp out this type of behaviour,” Mr Blashki said.
He said he was working along side Casey Council, local police and other business owners to work out the best way to prevent crime occurring.
“We just need more businesses to get on board,” he said.