POLICE are urging residents to dob in people, including friends and relatives, behaving suspiciously in the City of Whittlesea’s fire hotspots this summer.
Mill Park Senior Sergeant Danny Civitico said people who suspected that someone they knew might be a firebug should report them.
“People who commit bushfire arson are not always strangers; they often live and work in local communities,” he said. “You can provide information confidentially.”
SEE: CFA fire incidents and warnings.
Mr Civitico said police asked the public to report unusual behaviour, particularly in grasslands, parks or other open areas as part of Operation Firesetter, which was designed to catch arsonists.
Things to look for include:
■ People or vehicles that look out of place or are not known locally
■ Vehicles left parked or unattended in unusual locations in or near parklands, grassy and treed areas or open areas.
Mr Civitico said residents should get as much detail as possible, including car registration numbers, vehicle type and descriptions of the occupants. “We urge members of the public to report any suspicious behaviour to Victoria Police on 000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” he said. – Sue Hewitt
