By Laura Wakely
BRIMBANK Police have urged residents to lock and secure their homes after recording nearly 80 burglaries in just nine days.
Brimbank’s Burglary Unit reported a 25 per cent increase in burglaries in the past month, with 78 burglaries in the first nine days of February.
The number is 25 per cent higher than the offences recorded this time last month, surprising police who usually experience a higher number of burglaries during the summer holidays.
Offenders have hit residential homes across the municipality as well as shops and industrial areas in Derrimut and Tullamarine.
Acting Detective Sergeant Andrew Button said jewellery, especially gold, and laptops were among the targeted items.
Police are yet to establish whether the 78 offences are related.
Sunshine CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Fred Grove said most of the burglaries occurred during the daytime.
He said a lapse in security after the summer holiday period, which traditionally sees a spike in residential burglaries, could have paved the way for opportunistic thieves.
Det Snr Sgt Grove said residents should take a “proactive role” in securing their homes by locking up doors and windows and securing flyscreens.
He said residents should remove any indications of a vacant home by ensuring that mail and newspapers are removed from letterboxes.
He also suggested residents be aware of their neighbours and what’s happening in their neighbourhood.
“Police can’t be everywhere,” he said.
“People really do need to take some initiative.
“It’s not going to stop every burglary, but it will deter most.”
The most recent crime statistics for Brimbank Police Service Area revealed there were 2470 burglaries in the 12 month period to September 2011, of which 1867 were from homes.
That figure was a 40 per cent increase on the previous year’s 1328 residential burglaries, while non-residential burglaries jumped by 18 per cent to 603.
Last week Star reported that the victims of an aggravated burglary had been bound, gagged and threatened with a baseball bat and a knife at their Syme St home in St Albans.
The couple were awoken by two men impersonating police officers, who threatened the couple, ransacking the house and taking bank cards, before fleeing the scene.
Anyone with information about recent burglaries or anyone who has seen suspicious persons or vehicles is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
