By NATALIE GALLENTI
COMMUTERS across Melton will now be safer with the deployment of Protective Services Officers to Melton Railway Station this week.
The announcement was made yesterday and will come as a relief to residents who have avoided using public transport for fear of being confronted by vandals.
The decision to post PSOs at Melton station comes only months after the Government dispatched PSOs to Sunshine Railway Station.
Meanwhile, Melton Police have told Star that houses under construction and vacant premises continue to be targeted by offenders.
Police have warned residents in these areas to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour.
The call comes after a spate of burglaries at vacant properties between 17 April and 2 May. Properties in Plumpton, Melton West and Toolern Vale were the worst hit as electrical wiring and copper piping were popular among thieves.
Police are also calling for assistance after the football clubrooms at Diggers Rest were broken into between 23 and 24 April. Unknown offenders forced entry via a wooden door and stole food, soft drink and sporting equipment.
And in another incident, a 39-year-old Fawkner man was charged on summons after giving a false report to police. The offender was intercepted while driving a Toyota Kluger with false registration plates.
Police said the driver had hired the vehicle from Hertz, falsely reported it stolen and changed the registration plates.
A small quantity of drugs and a large amount of cash were seized from him, police said. He will be charged on summons with driving and drug offences and making a false report to police.
