Police have moved to reassure residents they are making a dent in aggravated burglaries happening across the west.
Senior Sergeant Trevor King said police have ramped up patrols in response to reports of teenagers, some as young as 13, involved in stealing cars, breaking into homes and terrorising people across the western suburbs.
He said Operation Cosmas – a taskforce set up to investigate the current spate of home invasions, carjackings and other aggravated burglary offences – had arrested more than 75 people since May.
Seven Melton and two Brimbank teenagers have been charged and remanded in custody in relation to an armed robbery and carjacking in St Albans last week.
The rise in crime has reignited resident calls for a greater police presence.
Hundreds of people are expected to rally next month near the Caroline Springs police station, calling on the state government and Victoria Police chief commissioner to heed their concerns.
Rally organiser Maria Kerr says community groups, victims and police union boss Ron Iddles will address the rally, from 11am on Saturday, August 13.
“Our goal is to get media attention, to get the community together and show we’re united,” Ms Kerr said.
It’s an ongoing call for action by residents – more than 150 people gathered at Hillside last week looking for answers from police.
“You’re undermanned and we understand that, and it is what it is,” one resident said at Hillside.
“We can’t do anything about that and we’re all frustrated. We [feel like] sitting ducks.”
Almost 6000 people joined a recently formed Neighbourhood Watch Facebook group, posting about “suspicious-looking” cars and offering suggestions to neighbours.
It has been reported that frustrated residents are patrolling streets and sleeping with baseball bats and knives beside their beds.
In response, police said they were concerned residents were becoming vigilantes.
Police advised people to call triple-0 immediately if they saw something suspicious.
