Wyndham’s vehicle crime unit will receive a temporary boost in numbers to combat a three-month spike in thefts from cars.
Senior Sergeant Peter Bitton said more than 200 cars were broken into across Wyndham in January and the trend had continued in the first week of February.
He said the city’s residents were becoming slack in personal security, with many vehicles left unlocked and valuables left in plain sight.
“It’s a significant issue,” he said. “It’s just opportunistic. When I was growing up, no one kept valuables in the car; no one had iPods, iPads or mobile phones … there might have been a few coins in the car.
“It’s definitely been increasing for a number of months and it’s not falling away.
“People have to be more aware of keeping their vehicles locked. It just leaves an opportunity for people to have easy access.”
Senior Sergeant Bitton said Wyndham’s vehicle crime unit would be strengthened in coming weeks in response to the rise in thefts.
Westleigh Gardens thefts
Meanwhile, the Wyndham crime investigation unit is on the hunt for an offender they believe is responsible for four incidents in a week in Werribee’s Westleigh Gardens estate.
In one case, the offender entered a Hopetoun Road home garage through an unlocked rear door on the night of January 31 and stole a 50cc blue quad bike.
And at least three cars have been broken into in surrounding streets, with a screwdriver set, wallet, cash, bankcards, satellite navigation system and iPods among the items stolen.
CCTV footage at a Hopetoun Road property captured a man wearing a white hoodie and cap and with leg tattoos and no shoes attempting to break into a handful of cars, including at least one parked in a driveway, between 4am and 5am on February 1.
The footage was given to Werribee police.
Senior Sergeant Bitton said police believed the same offender was involved in the Westleigh Gardens thefts and they were following a couple of leads.
He said there had also been several number plate thefts at the estate already this year.
