A Roxburgh Park man learned a hard lesson about vehicle security after thieves stole a garage remote control and attempted to break into his family’s home.
Mohamad Abbass’s family was one of three that fell prey to thieves in the area on the weekend of February 28-March 1.
Mr Abbass’s car was broken into and his house keys and a spare garage remote control were stolen, giving the thieves access to the home while his family slept.
Luckily, their five-year-old son heard the garage door open and alerted his parents.
Mr Abbass confronted the offenders in his garage and they fled – without any of the family’s possessions in hand.
Mr Abbass said his family moved to the area about five years ago to be close to extended family and friends but was having second thoughts.
“I’ve started to regret it – we’re considering moving,” he said.
“They turned the garage upside down and my wife is scared to be at home.”
The family has since changed the locks and disconnected their garage remote control in case the thieves return.
The incident occurred as police become increasingly frustrated with motorists who forget to lock their cars or leave valuable items on display.
Hume crime prevention officer Jacqui Newman said there had been a spike in thefts from cars in Roxburgh Park, Greenvale and Craigieburn in the past month.
Motorists were not heeding police warnings and many were still failing to lock their cars and remove keys, handbags, wallets and jewellery.
“Many thefts from cars are purely opportunistic and simply occur because the cars are left unlocked,” she said.
In Victoria it is an offence to leave a vehicle unlocked. It may incur a $148 fine.
In February, more than 80 cars were broken into in the Hume area. About 40 per cent of those thefts were of number plates.
“What motorists need to recognise is that these stolen registration plates are being used to commit more serious offences,” Senior Constable Newman said.
She urged all motorists to fit one-way anti-theft screws to secure their registration plates.
