By CHARLENE MACAULAY
FOOTSCRAY Police are urgently seeking community assistance after nine homes in Footscray’s CBD were robbed in the space of a week.
Inspector Tony Long told Star that nine day-time burglaries had occurred in a small cluster around Moore and Nicholson streets, Footscray, over the course of a week.
Insp Long said the offenders were entering the premises by smashing windows and targeted small items such as laptop computers, iPods and cameras.
Insp Long said the nature of entry and the kinds of items stolen indicates that only one or two offenders travelling on foot are involved.
He said there was a strong likelihood the stolen goods were being traded in for illegal substances, adding that police were checking pawn stores in relation to the burglaries.
Insp Long said it was uncommon to see such a high number of home burglaries in such a concentrated area in a short period of time.
“We do get little spates like this from time to time.
“If you’re living or working in this area, please remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour.“Crimes such as these are often solved as a result of community help.”
The latest crime statistics showed a 22.6 per cent decrease in residential burglaries between 2011 and 2012, with 614 offences recorded last year.
Meanwhile, police were able to foil an attempted burglary in Braybrook recently thanks to some observant locals.
Local residents noticed a group of six men trying to break in to the Sunshine Football Club clubrooms at the Kinder Smith Reserve in Lily Street, Braybrook, in the early hours of 27 April.
The residents immediately called police, who were soon on the scene and able to arrest three of the men at the scene.
One of the men allegedly resisted police in attempting to flee the scene and was sprayed with capsicum spray. The remaining three men managed to escape the police net.
If you know anything about these offences or any other crimes, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit their web site at www.crimestoppers.com.au
