Point Cook and Sanctuary Lakes residents are being reminded to lock up after a spate of opportunistic thefts and burglaries from unsecured cars and garages.
Senior Constable Kellie Innes, of the Wyndham crime investigation unit, said property crime in both suburbs was an ongoing problem for police, and she urged residents not to be complacent.
“People are leaving cars unlocked and garage doors wide open and they’re becoming a target,” she said.
“We’ve seen footage of thieves walking up and down the street late at night pulling car doors to see if they’ll open.
“They’re stealing items people typically leave in cars such as sunglasses and GPS systems and they’ll often rummage through gloveboxes.”
Senior Constable Innes said daring thieves were even stealing from garages while residents were still at home.
“They’re also taking garage door remotes from vehicles and using them to get in.
“We’ve had reports of vehicles being stolen after keys had been left in them.
“Both Point Cook and Sanctuary Lakes are generally safe areas and this can lead to complacency when it comes to security.
“It’s not uncommon for families to leave garage door open while their children are out riding their bikes. Most thieves are desperate and they’ll take any opportunity to steal if the opportunity is presented.”
Senior Constable Innes said police would be stepping up patrols, but she urged residents to take simple steps to ensure they didn’t become a victim.
“When you leave, lock internal garage doors leading into your house, ensure your garage doors are down and make sure all vehicles are locked and garage remotes are not left inside,” she said.
Anyone with information about these incidents or any criminal activity should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
