By NATALIE GALLENTI-BREKALO
A 13-YEAR-OLD Melton boy received an official caution from police after he deliberately lit a grass fire late last year.
Police believe the teenager was responsible for the fire near Gretel Grove in Melton on 31 December, and interviewed the offender last Wednesday.
Meanwhile there were a series of grass fires in and around Taylors Hill and Diggers Rest during Victoria’s recent heatwave which are believed to have been deliberately lit.
The fires began along the Calder Freeway, near Calder Park Drive, Holden Rd, the southern Diggers Rest Freeway exit, the Gap Rd Freeway exit and in Racecourse Rd, Sunbury.
Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Jenks said police believe most, if not all fires, were deliberately lit and may have been started by the same person.
Det Sen Sgt Jenks said luckily all of the fires were extinguished quickly before significant damage of injury was sustained.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Melton police are also warning owners of vacant rental properties to ensure their homes are properly secured after a spate of burglaries this year.
Det Sen Sgt Jenks said burglaries on vacant rental premises and vacant homes advertised for sale have increased and said these premises are particularly vulnerable.
“It is important that where possible valuable and non-fixture items should not be left at these locations. It is also vital that suspicious behaviour in and around these premises is reported to police,” he said.
Garages and sheds have become a target for would-be thieves also and he warned residents to keep them securely locked and never leave the roller door up, even when at home.
Police are calling for any information on a white van that was sighted at the scenes of two burglaries in Burnside Heights on Saturday, 18 January. The first burglary occurred in Illawong Terrace, between 12.30 and 1pm and the second occurred in Tenterfield Drive between 2pm and 4.30pm. Computer equipment was stolen.
