By Bonny Burrows
Fearful Lang Lang residents are lobbying for increased security measures after a spate of crimes have left many feeling unsafe in their own homes.
Community fear is at an all-time high following a string of thefts including raids on the gun club, school, vehicles and homes, the latest being a break-in at the town’s post office overnight on Tuesday 25 July.
In response to the crime wave, Lang Lang resident Jason Lawler, with the support of his neighbours, has started a petition calling for council and police action to tackle the problem.
Mr Lawler and his wife moved to Lang Lang in early 2015 but, like so many other residents, now say they no longer feel safe.
He attributes the feeling to an unmanned police station “that’s just a building”, a reported increase in property theft and a population influx brought on by the development of housing estates.
The town was a “free target” at night, according to Mr Lawler, due to a lack of police presence.
The nearest 24-hour police station – based in Pakenham – was a 20-minute drive away, Mr Lawler said.
He said this was “far too long” to wait in an emergency.
Mr Lawler said Cardinia Shire Council had failed to increase security measures such as surveillance cameras and street lighting as the town’s population grew.
“Being on the tail end of Cardinia Shire and on the boundary of Bass Shire, we’re kind of in no man’s land,” Mr Lawler said.
“The council can’t promote Lang Lang as a destination to live while not addressing the crime out here.
“And we, as residents, have the right to feel safe.”
Denise Lambie shares similar concerns.
The mother of a baby and a toddler, Ms Lambie moved her young family to the town 11 months ago “because we knew it was a safe little country town”.
But recent events have left her feeling vulnerable and she has increased her home security.
“The difference in just the last three months has opened our eyes,” Ms Lambie said.
“This town is easily accessible for crime because there is no police or security presence… we need our station manned now,” she said.
Long-time resident Brian Candy has been campaigning for a manned police station in the town through various media since 2012, but to no avail.
He told the Gazette that the need had only increased in the past five years with the chemist, gun club, school, and post office just some of the businesses recently hit by thieves.
“It’s probably gone downhill and got worse,” he said of crime in the town.
He said the community couldn’t just “lie down and accept” this new norm for Lang Lang.
“The town is growing, and we need and require policing,” Mr Candy said.
“Proactive policing is done by manning our police station and giving our community the protection it deserves,” he said.
“We need a local cop that lives in the town, knows the town and knows what’s going on in the town, and I’m not going to give in or give up until we get the manned police station we deserve.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s Port Ward councillor Graeme Moore, who represents Lang Lang, said he supported the community in its fight for local police presence.
He said he had noticed an increase in crime and understood the community’s concerns.
“While it’s a state issue, I’m here for them in any way I can, and I’m happy to advocate for the township on this issue of bringing police presence back to Lang Lang,” Cr Moore said.
Despite the community support, Victoria Police has rejected calls for a permanently manned police station.
Victoria Police Cardinia Local Area Commander Inspector Shane Smith said he was confident that the current arrangement for Lang Lang was meeting demand.
He said the Lang Lang Police Station was manned 9am to 5pm Mondays and police have reported an 11.8 per cent decrease in crime across the shire for the year ending March 2017.
Lang Lang was regularly patrolled by police, Inspector Smith said, and any reports of suspicious behaviour, criminal activity or need for non-urgent police attendance could be phoned through to the Kooweerup station during office hours or Pakenham station 24 hours a day.
“If urgent police assistance is required, the community should phone triple zero and the nearest police unit will be tasked,” Inspector Smith said.
Mr Lawler’s petition can be found at www.change.org/p/people-of-lang-lang-make-lang-lang-a-safe-town.
