New home owners are getting to the point of camping overnight in their unfinished houses to deter would-be burglars in Melbourne’s north.
Hume crime prevention officer Senior Constable Jacqui Newman says thieves are ransacking houses still under construction at Craigieburn and Greenvale.
“We’re getting hit really hard because there’s a lot of new development.”
Police are appealing to witnesses to call Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 if they see suspicious activity.
Senior Constable Newman said most burglaries were occurring during daylight hours, between 10am and 4pm, in the interim period when builders have finished work and new occupants are yet to move in.
“After lock-up, they’re smashing in and taking what they can,” she said.
Hot water services, copper piping, cooktops and white goods are all being targeted.
Police are encouraging people who are having their homes built to ask their builder to install the white goods and other appliances the day after handover.
“We’re asking builders to take crime prevention steps if they can,” she said.
Theft from cars is another issue that continues to chew up local police resources.
Senior Constable Newman said almost 50 per cent of all thefts from cars in the Hume region were theft of registration plates.
She encouraged motorists to lock their cars, not leave valuables in clear view, and take advantage of one-way anti-theft screws that can be collected free of charge from all Hume police stations.
