By BRIDGET SCOTT
A NEW police unit that will operate out of the Cranbourne police station will aim to target crime before it occurs.
A proactive police unit, which will incorporate officers from the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and Greater Dadenong, will focus on crime prevention in these municipalities.
Sergeant in charge of the unit Melissa Blair said police would aim to ensure people did not become victims.
She said police would target areas where offences had taken place, and would provide local residents with crime prevention material.
Sgt Blair said the focus would be theft from motor vehicles which was the “highest rating crime in the southern metro division”.
“It’s an initiative to try and get people to take responsibility for their items, in this case being cars,” she said.
Sgt Blair said the idea was to discourage people from leaving valuable items in their car, adding that these items attracted would-be thieves.
“Remove the product from visibility and the crooks will walk straight past,” she said.
Sgt Blair also urged people to lock their cars and said leaving it unlocked, “doubles the chance” of something being taken.
“The project is about making sure people do the right thing.”
She said a penalty would be introduced for people who did not lock their car, and police would be out and about to inform residents about the new operation and how to protect themselves and their belongings.
“Crime prevention officers will be dealing with this,” she said.
Leading Senior Constable Brett Owen, who will be part of the operation, said they hoped to educate the community about crime prevention.
“Crime prevention is becoming a key priority for us,” he said.
“It’s great to see it being introduced.”
