A spate of break-ins and burglaries at Craigieburn and Mernda have increased calls for a 24-hour police station in the outer north.
Local businesses and homes in Craigieburn and Mernda were targeted by water meter thieves during the January heatwave, while reports of burglaries and hoon driving are also on the rise.
Mernda doctors Sachin Patel and Saty Bhat, who have developed medical practices at Mernda and Doreen in the past four years, have added their voices to the Mernda Needs a Police Station campaign after break-ins both at work and home.
“We own two practices, one in Mernda and one in Doreen,” Dr Patel said.
“Our water metre was stolen in January, we think for precious metals, and our home [in Mernda] was burgled in November.
“Speaking to my patients, lots are feeling unsafe. They’re young families with young children and they don’t want them being exposed to this,” he said.
“It’s external forces who are seeing it as an easy target because we don’t have a police station close by, and there are lots of hoon drivers who come here for that purpose.
“It’s not on; we need to stand up for the community.”
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Yarra Valley Water has also felt the brunt of break-in losses, with 15 meters stolen in a single night during the recent heatwave at Craigieburn and at least eight reported stolen from Mernda, leaving people without water during one of the most dangerous hot weather events in a century.
YVW infrastructure services general manager David Snadden said that it beggars belief that someone would cut off people’s water in such heat, affecting a childcare centre and the local bakery, as well as the medical and dental clinics.
“We are replacing the meters as quickly as possible, but obviously this is very inconvenient for our customers, particularly with the warm weather,” Mr Snadden said.
Replacing the meters, which cost as much as $2000 each, also diverted YVW crews at one of the busiest times of year, when the system is prone to bursts and leaks because of the changing ground conditions.
“Thieves are stealing the meters to sell for scrap metal, potentially risking 15 years in prison for around $30 a meter. Copper piping has also been stolen.”
Mr Snadden urged builders to fence their properties and install meter locks on greenfield sites, and to report thefts to police.
He said YVW was working with police and alerting scrap metal merchants, impressing on them the illegality of accepting water authority-engraved meters, as they can be charged with receiving stolen property.
If you notice anything suspicious around water meters, contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or local police.
For information about the Mernda Needs a Police Station campaign, drop in at the campaign stall at Laurimar Town Fair in Doreen on February 15.
