By Alexandra Laskie
Police have ramped up overnight patrols in response to fears of increased criminal activity in Keilor.
Brimbank police’s Inspector David Byrt described a spate of burglaries and two ram-raids last week as part of an emerging trend of “more visible crime”.
“Ram-raids have become more prevalent of recent times, not just in the Keilor area,” he said.
“It’s a crime activity that we’re aware of and are actively targeting and preventing.”
He said that this type of criminal activity was unusual for Keilor.
“There have been some crimes there of the kind we haven’t seen before.”
Last Wednesday, damage estimated to cost thousands of dollars was caused when two businesses, one in Keilor Village, the other in Keilor Park, were ram-raided.
Keilor Village Convenience Store’s window frame and protective metal bars were pushed into the front of the shop, while cigarettes valued at hundreds of dollars were stolen during the raid about 4am.
Several hours earlier, the rear roller door of a tool business in Keilor Park was also rammed.
It is the ninth time in four years the Makita service centre in Thomsons Road has been hit by vandals.
Inspector Byrt said police were investigating both incidents. He was unable to comment on whether they were linked.
In mid-May, a Keilor Park car and motorbike sales business had one of its glass windows smashed in and a $15,000 Harley Davidson motorbike stolen from the premises.
Autoline Car Sales owners Matt and Damien Beckwith said police had found the luxury motorbike four days later during a raid in Werribee, but it had to be written off.
Damien said that two years earlier, the same window had been ram-raided, causing extensive damage to an Audi sedan parked on their showroom floor. The total damage bill was more than $18,000.
“We don’t put anything pretty in the window any more,” Damien said. After the first incident, the business installed concrete bollards around the perimeter of its showroom. But it had failed to deter criminals.
About half of the 16 businesses
Star Weekly spoke to in the same Keilor Park Drive business park had been broken into within the past four years.
In late July, 20 Keilor Village traders convened a meeting with police and Brimbank council concerned about “a wave of break-ins” that month.
Inspector Byrt said police had increased the number of patrol units working in the Keilor area overnight to address community concerns.
