By Alesha Capone
BRIMBANK Police have warned commuters to be careful when leaving their cars at train stations.
Sunshine CIU’s Senior Sergeant Fred Grove said the rate of thefts from vehicles parked at the Sunshine, Albion and Watergardens railway stations has risen recently.
“It’s an ongoing problem, but something we’ve noticed in the last month is that there’s been quite an upward swing,” he said.
“It’s a big issue at the moment, particularly in Sunshine. We’ve even had cars being broken into and nothing stolen.”
Police have launched a crackdown at the stations and are also urging train travellers not to leave valuable items visible in their cars, including money, cameras, GPS navigation systems and mobile phones.
“People need to take their items with them or leave them at home if they don’t need them,” Sen Sgt Grove said.
He said lately, laptop computers left on car seats have also been taken from vehicles parked at train stations.
Sen Sgt Grove said the thefts tended to occur throughout the day, after the morning peak period when people left their cars at the stations, as well as at night.
“People having property stolen should report it to police,” Sen Sgt Grove said.
Police have urged people working near the train station car parks or passing through to call triple-zero if they see anyone acting suspiciously.
