By ANEEKA SIMONIS
CARS parked off Princes Highway in Pakenham were worst hit by thieves over the past week.
Between Monday 18 May and Sunday 24 May, police received reports of property being stolen from three vehicles.
Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit’s (CIU) analyst Christine Wilde said plates were also stolen from three vehicles.
Police reports indicate handbags and similar valuables were on top of the hit list.
Overnight on Friday 22 May to Saturday 23 May, an unlocked car parked at the driver’s Pakenham home was targeted by a woman who stolen a visible handbag with bankcards, cash and car keys.
The vehicle had an alarm system but it was not activated as the keys were left in the car.
Police charged the Cranbourne West woman in Frankston hours after the incident was reported.
Days earlier, a car parked in Cardinia Reservoir with a handbag in sight was forcefully broken into.
On Monday 18 May, police received a report of an offender smashing the car passenger window to steal the handbag.
Crime statistic trends show Pakenham is a hotspot for opportunistic crims across the entire region.
Last week, police received nine reports of cars being targeted by thieves with thieves successfully making their way into six cars.
Three separate attempts were unsuccessful made on other cars.
Police urge drivers to lock their cars at all times and remove valuables from sight.
