By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Police have doubled arrests, yet there’s been double the number of home invasions in City of Casey, according to the latest police stats.
In 2016, there were 370 aggravated burglaries in Casey – more than one a day and comfortably the highest of any municipality in Melbourne – according to statistics reported on Nine News.
It was nearly double the total of 199 aggravated burglaries in 2015.
Acting Superintendent Simon Humphrey, who oversees Victoria Police south-east region, said police believed “the worst is behind us” with a dent in crime rates in recent months.
“Over the last four or five months, overall crime rates have been reducing, and while we acknowledge we still have a lot of work to do, we feel that the worst is behind us.”
Police had been “working harder than ever” in arresting twice as many home-invasion offenders in 2016 compared to 2014.
More of those arrested were also being remanded in custody, Acting Supt Humphrey said.
Most home invasions were non-violent, and being committed by “predominantly youth networked” offenders to take car keys and steal cars, he said.
These offenders were targeted by the police’s Southern Metro Regional Crime Team, which undertook “proactive policing in high risk areas” and “managing persons of interest”.
The team works with counterparts in other regions of Melbourne to form a picture of where and why the offending occurred.
“We aren’t just trying to react to the crime when it occurs – we have a range of initiatives underway to try and get on top of it before it occurs.
“Outside of policing the problem, we are engaging with the community and stakeholders on what we can do to stop these young people offending in the first place.”
Acting Supt Humphrey said there was no update on extra police numbers in Casey, as part of the State Government’s extra 2729 police over four years.
In the latest police figures, assaults – up 21 per cent, burglaries – up 32 per cent, and thefts – up 18 per cent – soared significantly.
Acting Supt Humphrey said the police’s “proactive burglary investigation teams” operated in areas of known burglaries, but still many occurred due to unlocked doors and windows.
The exploding crime rate was partly attributed to Casey’s soaring population.
“Areas that were open paddocks just a few years ago are now full of houses and as the population increases unfortunately so does the opportunity for crimes to be committed.”
Rick Maaskant, who was stabbed with a pitchfork by intruders in his Hampton Park home in March, says the current law-and-order approach isn’t working.
He has been burgled six times, had five cars, his wallet and TV remote stolen.
“If you can’t do anything about it after six burglaries, what makes you think you’d be safe after eight or 20?
“It’s a vicious cycle. They go to jail for three months, spend time with their mates and have a whale of a time.
“Then they get out and it all starts again.”
His solution is to fly out offenders and “drop them in the ocean”.
“They could have easily killed me. They could have killed a lot of people. They steal cars and burn cars.
“They have no respect for any of us. Why should we be so respectful of them?”
TABLE
KEEPING BURGLARS AT BAY
* Install good quality locks on doors and windows.
* Lock all windows and doors, even when you’re at home – unlocked side and rear doors are the most common entry points for burglars.
* Remove valuable items from plain sight – particularly car keys, wallets and cash.
* Make your house look occupied at all times. For example, ask a neighbour to bring in your mail and bins if you’re away for a while.
* Report suspicious behaviour to police immediately via triple-zero (000).
Source: Victoria Police
