By BRIDGET SCOTT
A SUB-BRANCH of the Casey Neighbourhood Watch has been created following high rates of crime reported in an area within the City of Casey.
Residents from the Marriott Waters estate, Lyndhurst, have joined forces to create a sub-committee following a number of break-ins and attempted break-ins throughout their area.
A meeting was held in the estate last Thursday night to get wheels in motion for the new group which would act under the Casey Neighbourhood Watch.
Resident and chairperson of the new group Karen Keeble said they had noticed an up and down spike in crime rates within the estate.
She said a residents’ Facebook page helped people keep up-to-date with any recent crime.
“About a year ago, there were break-ins on a nightly basis,” she said.
Ms Keeble said her own home was broken into and robbed within their first two weeks in the estate.
“Residents have voiced that they are unhappy and that we should get something together,” she said.
Sharon Wallace from the Casey Neighbourhood Watch committee said there was a need for a group in the Marriott Waters estate.
“If anyone wants to set one up, they must come under our sub-committee,” she said.
“With Lyndhurst being a new area, people think there is plenty of money, so there are plenty of break-ins.”
“We are noticing it more and people are talking about it.”
City of Casey councillors as well as local police officers were present at the meeting last week to get the new group up and running.
Nearly 50 concerned residents attended the meeting, and Ms Keeble said there was already a small group of people prepared to be on the committee.
“People want to get behind it and get it moving,” she said.
“It’s important for the community and myself that it becomes a thing of the future.”
Cranbourne Police Officer Brett Owen was among those to get behind the new group and will help the cause through his role in the new Proactive Police Operation.
“I welcome this sub-committee and we will work with them to reduce crime,” he said.
“Something like this will help us educate the community in protecting themselves against crime and implementing their own strategies,” he said.
