by Michaela Meade
Victoria Police have apologised to an 81-year-old Lalor man after he was left to defend his home from an attempted invasion.
Police said they met with Peter and his daughter Kristine to “unreservedly apologise” for the delay in attending the scene after he made three calls to triple-0 in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
“A man aged in his 80s and living alone should expect that after someone has tried to force their door [open], in the middle of the night, that police will be there to help,” a police spokesperson said.
Those attempting to enter Peter’s house fled when he yelled at them, and Kristine yesterday told 3AW radio that her dad heard a car speed away.
“The neighbour heard it, she was also woken up by it. She said that she saw three people running towards the car and then disappearing,” Kristine said.
“My 81-year-old father put a chair behind the broken door and went back to bed, didn’t even think to ring me, because he was probably in shock, and waited.”
Police said it is their responsibility to ensure Peter felt safe in his home when he felt threatened.
“We acknowledge and accept that there was a failure in our service delivery to Peter, not only in making sure he felt safe but that he could rely on us to be there when he needed us,” police said.
“We didn’t on this occasion and for this we offer our sincere apology.”
