Street of fear

HUNDREDS of schoolchildren were put into protective lockdown as armed police surrounded a house in Pakenham to break a three hour siege yesterday.
Heavily armed officers were deployed after an anonymous tip off called in police after residents reported hearing gun shots at the Gardiner Street home at 11.17am.
Children at three nearby schools were kept in their classes and neighbours were kept indoors while negotiators approached the home to defuse the stand-off.
Police closed nearby streets and the normally busy McGregor Road was closed from The Avenue to the railway crossing in the town’s centre.
Officers spoke to the occupants – four men and one female – from the house’s porch and were eventually able to convince them to give themselves up into police custody about 2.30pm.
Police said they had earlier received a report of a domestic dispute at the house.
After the siege Pakenham Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Watson said officers had a warrant to search the house for firearms.
“No one was hurt,” he said.
“We are still investigating the initial call of a gun shot.
“Of the five people, three have been taken into custody for further questioning.”
Police called in help from the Dog Squad, two Critical Investigation Response units and a helicopter.
Joanne Black, a neighbour and resident of seven years, said the occupants of the house have only been there a short time.
“I found out there was something going on online and so I stayed inside the whole time,” she said.
“But I didn’t hear any gun shot noises.
“I had no idea it was happening.”