By Brendan Rees
A primary school was forced into lockdown after a man was attacked in a nearby home invasion in Berwick on Tuesday 4 February.
A 34-year-old Berwick man was in a serious but stable condition after being allegedly assaulted by thugs at a property on Centre Road about 1.30pm.
Paramedics treated the victim who was taken to Dandenong Hospital after suffering multiple injuries which were deemed non-life threatening.
Students at the nearby Berwick Fields Primary School were kept indoors for the afternoon after a message was sent to parents alerting them of the incident.
The message assured parents the “incident does not involve the school but we have spoken with members on site and have decided as a result to keep all of the students inside for the afternoon.”
“When students are dismissed at 3.15 we will have extra staff on supervision on Centre Road,” the message stated.
Police say the unknown group fled and no arrests have been made.
“Investigators have been told a group unknown offenders have arrived at the address in a vehicle,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said. “Two offenders have forced entry to the Centre Road house approximately 1.30 pm”.
Several police officers attended where crime scene tape was set up around the perimeter of the property.
Neighbour Ron Caulfield said he and his wife were at home when they saw a police car activating its lights before at least three ambulances arrived shortly after.
“Police have spoken to us but we didn’t know what it was,” Mr Caulfield said. “We saw the car go past with the lights on and thought they’ve grabbed somebody for speeding”.
Other neighbours described the area as usually quiet and didn’t know what was unfolding on Centre road until police knocked on their doors.
A neighbour, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said there had been different people living at the house where police had established a crime scene.
“I don’t know the people that live there,” the resident said. “For a while it was completely vacant about a year ago.”
The resident, who has CCTV cameras installed at his home, said the neighbourhood was “very quiet” and he “loved” the area.
“You don’t really hear much around here … I don’t think that thugs coming into the area; I reckon it’s targeted,” the resident said.
A man, who had been walking his grand-daughter to a park nearby, said he was worried when he saw police guarding the house outside, while neighbour Huy Trinh said he had just arrived home from school when he looked down the street to see police everywhere.
Police are investigating. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
