By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
PAKENHAM police are encouraging residents to lock their cars and remove valuables overnight after eight cars were broken into in one night.
All eight cars were left unlocked on the night of 20-21 July, with owners discovering the next morning that their cars had been entered and belongings removed.
The incidents all occurred between 10.30pm and 7am within a small area in a Beaconsfield residential estate, north of the Old Princes Highway.
Items stolen include cosmetics, coins, a laptop bag, a garage remote, a wallet and a DVD player.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Darron Hedge encouraged people to make an effort to lock their cars at night.
“These people moving around the area, checking to see if car doors are open,” he said.
“If they’re locked, it’s likely that they will leave it alone and move on.”
He also said residents should review their home security systems, ensuring that their garage remotes were kept securely.
“Thieves will target garage remotes because they allow easy access to homes.
“Keep remotes on your keys, keep your keys in a secure location and ensure there are adequate security measures separating home and garage.”
Last week’s incidents were part of a total of 17 reported thefts from motor vehicles in the Pakenham area from 20 July to 26 July, a significant increase from the seven reported incidents of the previous week.
Anyone with information on the thefts should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
