By JESSE GRAHAM
YARRA Glen businesses had a refresher in safety last night, in a Crime and Safety Forum organised in the wake of an armed robbery.
About 20 community group and business representatives gathered in the office of Eildon MP Cindy McLeish on Tuesday 25 August, for a Crime and Safety Forum.
Organised by Ms McLeish, the Yarra Glen Chamber of Commerce and Victoria Police, the forum focussed on crime prevention and gave the residents a chance to raise questions with police officers.
Lilydale police Crime Prevention Officer Leading Senior Constable Linda Hancock joined Yarra Glen police Sergeant Richard Coulson as the main speakers at the forum, which was organised after recent robberies and thefts, including an armed robbery in July.
Leading Sen Const Hancock spoke after an introductory speech by Casey MP Tony Smith, who explained recent security camera rollouts in Lilydale, Healesville and Yarra Junction, with the latter town soon to turn on its cameras.
She said that cameras installed in Lilydale about 10 years ago saw the crime rates decrease by 77 per cent in the areas they were installed – and the rates are staying down.
With current technology, the cameras can “see a pimple on a nose,” according to Leading Sen Const Hancock, who said they have use both as a deterrent and for evidence collecting.
But the crux of the meeting was on business safety, after some “serious burglaries”, which included the armed robbery, at one of the town’s bakeries, and cigarette thefts from the IGA supermarket and the town’s service station.
Leading Sen Const Hancock said business owners could help to prevent some crimes by assessing their opening and closing times, where they housed cash, and changing up routine, if they go to the bank at the same time each day, for example.
Both officers said cameras were inexpensive to install in businesses, and could help in collecting evidence after a robbery or other crime had occurred.
Victoria Police Business Security Kits – containing advice and tips in dealing with situations from armed robbery to credit card fraud and theft – were also handed out to each of the attendees,
Leading Sen Const Hancock described Yarra Glen as a “great-run town where everyone knows each other,” and as a place with a “very low-level crime rate” compared to other regions, though crime was still a concern.
“We just have to start being smarter about it,” she said.
“The days of country living, of not locking your car and not locking your house are in the past.
“But it doesn’t mean we’ve got to put bars on the windows and locks so it takes three people to get out – we don’t want that.”
This sentiment was echoed by Sgt Coulson, who said the armed robbery at the bakery was the second since 1993, though the town was experiencing issues with methamphetamine (ice) use.
The two officers then fielded questions from the attendees about how police respond to incidents.
Sgt Coulson said that in any situation where police are needed immediately, triple-zero (000) was the best number to call, as local stations, such as Healesville and Yarra Glen, were often not staffed.
Responding to a question from a resident, Sgt Coulson described burnouts as “modern-day graffiti”, and asked residents to try and get as many details as possible, including registration number, car make and model and a description of the driver or occupants of the car, while staying out of harm’s way.
As for businesses, Leading Sen Const Hancock said owners could contact her at the Lilydale Police Station to organise a free security assessment.
Earlier in the night, Mr Smith explained that the camera rollout came through the Safer Streets Communities Grants, where communities could apply for funding to have the cameras purchased and installed by the Federal Government, after agreeing to pay for future maintenance and upkeep themselves.
LSC Hancock said the maintenance of Lilydale’s set of cameras was roughly $500-$1000 per year, with $2000 for insurance, but this was offset by events such as the town’s street party.
Many attendees on the night appeared interested in the camera grants, and Mr Smith said that the second round of funding would soon be open for applications.
