By BRIDGET SCOTT
POLICE hope that a new campaign launched last Friday will lower the number of thefts from cars throughout the Cardinia Shire.
Members from Victoria Police, Member for Gembrook Brad Battin and Minister for Crime Prevention Edward O’Donohue launched a new campaign to tackle high-volume crime in six locations across Victoria.
Partners in the new project hope the Victorian Coalition Government’s Help Yourself campaign will reduce the rates of opportunistic crime throughout the area.
Cardinia was one of six areas in the state to be part of the campaign, which was launched at the Pakenham Library.
Invested groups hope to increase people’s awareness of how they can protect both their homes and cars from thieves.
Mr O’Donohue said there was far too much crime in the area.
“Despite all the education campaigns and everyone knowing what is commonsense, far too much crime is opportunistic,” he said.
Friday was the official launch of the campaign for all areas across Victoria that it will cover, another of which was Dandenong.
Mr O’Donohue said police identified Cardinia Shire as an area with a high rate of crime regarding thefts from unlocked cars, and houses.
“There are six locations were opportunistic crime is over-represented and where police believe real difference can be made,” he said.
Superintendent Russell Barrett said he was pleased to launch the new initiative in Cardinia.
“We are working very hard in the crime prevention sense,” he said.
“We want to make the community safer and reduce opportunistic crime.”
Mr O’Donohue suggested ways people could keep their private property safer and said precautions needed to be taken.
“Simple precautions can prevent opportunistic crime,” he said.
Superintendent Barrett said a high percentage of theft from cars occurred when the vehicle had been left unlocked.
“The campaign is around raising awareness,” he said.
Mr O’Donohue also promoted the website which he described as “innovative” and “thought provoking.”
Mr Battin said “natural surveillance is the best crime prevention” and praised the work of Victoria Police, as well as community groups such as Neighbourhood Watch.
If you would like more information on the campaign, visit http://www.helpyourself.vic.gov.au/
