Walls to block crime – Leading Senior Constable Eddy MacDonald says homeowners and tradespeopl

By Jade Lawton
CRIME prevention at construction sites requires a joint effort between the community and police, according to Leading Senior Constable Eddy MacDonald.
Houses under construction are ready targets for thieves who take items such as whitegoods, vanity units, hot water systems, tools and tiles.
Just last week, two unfinished houses in Kimberley Grove, Pakenham, were broken into but nothing was taken.
“There were holes in the plaster,” Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Bruders said. “They basically just trashed the house.”
Leading Sen Const MacDonald, crime prevention officer for the area covering Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong, recently took the Gazette to an unfinished housing estate to demonstrate how homeowners and tradespeople could combat thieves and vandals.
“Fences around properties lessen the opportunity for criminals,” Leading Sen Const MacDonald said.
“But I would recommend getting the whitegoods fitted and then removing them until you take possession of the house.
“Personally, I couldn’t afford to have whitegoods replaced and in estates like this there are a lot of young families who could probably do without the setback.”
Leading Sen Const MacDonald said tradespeople also needed to lock their vehicles while working at construction sites.
He said that when checking one unattended van, he discovered it was unlocked and the keys were still in the ignition.
He sat in the van, which contained valuable tools, without attracting the attention of the tradesman working out the front of the neighbouring house.
“I’m quite surprised nobody came over and said, ‘Hey, is anything wrong?’ We need to look out for each other as a community,” he said.