Police call for home owners to prepare to beat theft

By Melissa Grant
POLICE are urging residents to cut their grass and organise a mail collector before heading on holidays this summer.
Burglars raided 310 homes in the Cardinia Shire during the 2007/08 financial year and police statistics show the holiday period is a popular time for break-ins. There were 29 residential burglaries recorded in the municipality last January and 32 in February.
Residential burglaries were about three times higher in neighbouring Casey, with 94 and 81 such thefts recorded in those months and 887 for the financial year.
Senior Sergeant Trevor Teer of Pakenham Police said residents often gave burglars the green-light by failing to keep their lawn trimmed and having mail stack up in the letterbox while on vacation.
“And they put bins out before they go which is like waving a red rag to a bull,” he said.
Detective Senior Constable Dave Mealia said the most commonly stolen items from Cardinia households were electrical appliances and jewellery. He said some people made it too easy for burglars by leaving their doors and windows unlocked.
Sen Const Dave Mealia urged those living in rural areas to also lock their gates. He said it was imperative that neighbours looked out for each other and called 000 immediately if they saw anything suspicious.
Sen Sgt Teer said residents could notify police if they were going on vacation and urged them to consider getting their own neighbourhood watch program up and running.
Sen Sgt Teer also said thefts at building sites in the municipality were on the rise and urged locals living in construction areas to stay vigilant.
“Anyone who sees any tradies at construction sites after hours should call 000,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have charged a Pakenham man, 28, with burglary and thefts from shops in the Pakenham area.
Before heading on holiday, police advise people to install and use deadlocks, window locks, security doors and an alarm, leave curtains and blinds as you would if at home, don’t leave keys or notes in obvious places and ensure the exterior is well lit at night, with sensor lights.
Installing a timer to switch on lights and appliances at programmed times and trimming foliage to remove blind spots on property would also be )an advantage.