Despite three armed robberies in three days, residents say …

By Bridget Brady
HAMPTON Park is still a safe place to work and live, according to its residents, despite three armed robberies in the area in as many days.
Traders and community leaders said the bout of crime over the weekend, which included armed robberies on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, was disappointing but not a common occurrence in the town.
On Monday, a 61-year-old female was threatened with a knife and had her car stolen when she was approached from behind at about 9.30am in a car park at a Hampton Park shopping centre.
Police on Tuesday charged three Casey youths with armed robbery, assault, theft, driving offences and conduct endangering life. All three were bailed to appear at a children’s court in October.
Senior Constable Michelle Walsh said the woman was extremely distressed, but received no injuries from the incident. A bottle and a knife were used when a 14-year-old from Narre Warren was threatened and had his mobile phone stolen at a shopping centre in Hampton Park in the early hours of Saturday.
And on Sunday about 6.50pm, two males produced a mechanical spanner on the corner of Ormond and Tuileries roads, Narre Warren South, and asked a 17-year-old male to hand over his mobile phone when they approached him to ask for directions.
Hampton Park Networking Group president and resident Vanassa Gerdes said traders still felt safe. She said business owners needed more education about security services available to them and advice on what to do when faced with a dangerous situation. “It comes down to re-educating everyone across the board,” Ms Gerdes said. “Security at the shopping centre do a great job. Everyone has limited time and money and resources. What they are doing is great.”
Ms Gerdes said the networking group may host a business breakfast in the future on the topic of security for traders.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said sometimes crime came in bouts, but could not recall this happening in Hampton Park before.
Cr Smith said it was a worry that youths could be responsible for some of the crimes. “There has got to be some responsibility taken from families to know where their kids are,” Cr Smith said. “If these were young kids on a weekday why were they not at school?”
Cr Smith said he shuddered to think some youths could be headed towards a life of very serious crime.
Hampton Park resident Tony O’Hara said he felt safe in his town. “I think these things come in waves for some unknown reasons. This hopefully will go away,” Mr O’Hara said.
The Embona Taskforce at Frankston is investigating the armed robberies that occurred on Saturday and Sunday. If anyone has information call the Frankston Police Station on 9784 5555.