A “massive spike” in number plate thefts and a recent spate of burglaries targeting tradies’ utes in the northern areas of Brimbank has all the hallmarks of organised crime, police say.
Brimbank crime investigation unit’s Acting Detective Sergeant Isaac Papadopoulos said the number plate thefts were well organised and targeted specific makes of vehicles.
“There’s been a 20 per cent increase in number plate theft over the past year,” he said.
“[That’s] an extra 20 to 30 plates each month – there’s been a massive spike over the past four to five months.”
He said cars on main roads and thoroughfares were being targeted, with their plates then being used on vehicles in petrol drive-offs, tollway evasion, ram-raids and armed robberies.
Acting Detective Sergeant Papadopoulos called on the community to pay attention to people acting suspiciously or loitering around carparks near train stations and shopping centres, and to get number plate “anti-theft one-way screws” from local police stations. These special screws make stealing plates more difficult.
The spike in number plate thefts follows a spate of tool thefts in the northern areas of Brimbank, where there has been an “alarming” increase in break-ins and burglaries from tradies’ utes.
“We had a generator stolen in Albion, around $6000 worth of tools in Cairnlea,” Acting Detective Sergeant Papadopoulos said.
“It’s two cars every night in places like Keilor Park, Keilor Downs, Taylors Lakes and Albion.”
Senior Sergeant Brenda Bagally reported to Star Weekly another concerning trend of opportunistic street crimes on “lone targets” in Sunshine and St Albans during July.
“There were a couple of incidents at bus stops in Sunshine and Sunshine West that entailed verbal threats and theft of mobile phones and wallets. Transport hubs pose the greatest risks to victims,” she said.
Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
