Ram raiders strike

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE IGA supermarket was the target of a ram-raid yesterday (Monday) morning.
The early morning smash and grab attempt is the latest in a spate of attacks on Maroondah Highway businesses over the past week.
The would-be thieves knocked down a bollard on the footpath just after 3am and reversed up to the glass door but were unable to gain entry.
Lilydale Police who attended believe the car used was a white older-model Nissan or Toyota ute.
Although the would-be thieves failed to get into the building, they caused extensive damage to the front door which is fortified with steel framing.
IGA owner Vidai Sodaitis, who took over the business seven weeks ago, said the raid was obviously planned as the number plates had been covered.
The ram-raid follows a smash and grab attempt in the early hours of Thursday, 14 June on Panache homewares shop opposite IGA.
Earlier in the same week the I-Scream ice cream shop, Reflex Hairdressing and The Grand Hotel were targeted.
Panache owner Pauline Hansford has called for a greater police presence in Healesville following what she said is a disturbing growth in early morning crime.
She said the people who attacked her premises had used a brick to smash a hole in the window but had been disturbed before they were able to grab anything.
They were seen running off.
Police took more than 20 minutes to come up from Lilydale, she said, by which time the attacker was long gone.
A team from the Croydon Crime Desk retrieved finger prints and blood for DNA testing from the broken window at Panache where a raider had cut himself as he reached through the window.
Senior Sergeant Tony Van Gorp of Healesville Police said officers were investigating the rise in early hour attempted burglaries but rejected the need for more police.
Anyone with information can contact Healesville Police on 5962 4422, Lilydale Police on 9735 1066 or the Croydon Crime Desk on 9724 0119.