By NATALIE GALLENTI-BREKALO
AN Altona resident is calling for harsher penalties on vandals after her home was targeted late last month.
The incident, in which the resident’s home was “egged” on two separate occasions, came only days before youths went on a shocking crime spree across Newport and Altona.
Residents and traders on Challis Street awoke on Monday 31 March, to find their cars and shopfronts had been severely damaged.
At least 18 cars and a number of shops were tagged with graffiti in the early hours of the morning while some cars had broken windows or had loose change stolen. Police estimate the damage bill to be more than $50,000.
The tag “NBT” was sprayed on most of the vehicles with police checking the acronym against a graffiti database. Other cars had offensive images or words painted on them.
Police said spray cans, tools and clothing found near the scene was being tested for DNA.
The angry Altona resident, who did not want to be named, spoke out after both incidents and said a greater police presence within the community might deter vandals from destroying people’s homes, cars and shops.
“We need to increase penalties for vandalism. We need more police to be out there. Things are not going to get any better,” the Altona resident said.
“Should the public take these matters in their own hands?”
She urged residents to report incidents of vandalism to police in a bid to create greater awareness.
“It’s important for residents to make reports – police don’t attend these incidents because they don’t have the resources.”
This is the third time in the last four months that the family’s home has been targeted.
Meanwhile, three adolescents have been charged after the events of last week.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Leading Senior Constable Julie-Anne Newman said after an outpouring of public assistance, detectives charged a 14-year-old boy from Forest Hill and two boys, aged 12 and 14, from Altona North.
Leading Sen Const Newman said the trio will face charges of theft of a motor car, theft from a motor car, criminal damage by fire and criminal damage related to offences at the Children’s Court at a later date.
