Point Cook men fed up with no police presence on their streets have organised their own night patrols.
But police have said vigilante-style groups are not the answer and fear the men are putting themselves and their families at risk.
‘Harry’, an Innisfail estate resident, started the patrols after his neighbour’s house was robbed several months ago.
“There is no police presence in Point Cook. … you just never see a cop car on this side of town,” he said.
Harry and his group of five take to the streets each night after 11pm, with their dogs, watching for any suspicious behaviour.
While they haven’t seen any incidents, Harry said he feels more secure knowing there’s someone watching out for them.
Acting senior sergeant Aaron Prentice-Evans, of Werribee Police Station, said home burglaries in Point Cook had risen during October and November. Three males were taken in for questioning last week in relation to the burglaries.
He said vigilante-style groups are not something Victoria Police supports.
“I understand their concerns, but I am concerned for their and their families’ safety,” Senior Sergeant Prentice-Evans said.
“You never know what potential offenders are capable of, or if they have weapons. Police have had extensive training that equips us to respond to these jobs safely.”
Stephanie, who also lives in the Innisfail estate, has experienced an attempted home invasion first-hand.
“I was home alone with my 16-month-old daughter, putting her to bed,” she said.
“When I walked out of the front bedroom, there was somebody at my back door, pulling and kicking on it, trying to get inside.
“I grabbed the phone and called triple-0 and screamed out that I was calling the police.”
The person at her back door left, but she said police never showed up.
“It’s very scary when this happens in your own home.”
Dave says he witnessed his neighbours’ home being robbed. Police were called and did attend, but he says they never door-knocked his house to see if he had witnessed anything.
Fearful about burglaries, he has cancelled his family’s Christmas trip to “keep an eye on the fort”.
“We’re also spending the money that would’ve been spent on a holiday on surveillance cameras instead.”
Senior sergeant Prentice-Evans said if a burglary is under way, police attend “as a matter of urgency”.
“If the offender isn’t there at the time, the call is prioritised slightly lower,” he said.
“We endeavour to get to every job called through to us.”
The state government last week announced funding for more than 2729 extra frontline officers.
Chief commissioner Graham Ashton said growth corridors where resources are stretched would be prioritised.
State Police Minister Lisa Neville confirmed earlier this year that Wyndham would get more officers on the beat.
