By Victoria Stone-Meadows
CASEY Crime Investigation Unit is on the lookout for a group of young men who are committing daylight burglaries in the South East suburbs.
The group have burgled properties on Arena Parade in Officer, San Fratello Street in Clyde North, Rosebank Drive in Cranbourne North, Crestway Drive in Cranbourne North, and Sussex Avenue in Cranbourne North.
It is believed the five young men have been travelling around the Cranbourne, Clyde and Officer areas in a stolen 2005 model silver Holden Commodore.
The car was reported as stolen from the Officer area on Thursday 17 November and involved in a petrol drive-off in Narre Warren at about 3pm that day.
It is believed four young men of African appearance and one of Maori or Islander appearance have committed four burglaries in the South East between Thursday 17 November and Sunday 20 November.
The group has been seen casing people’s properties and waiting for the households to be empty, usually between the hours of noon and 4pm, kicking in the front door and ransacking the houses.
The young men have been targeting items such as car keys, jewellery and any other valuables in plain view around the house.
Casey CIU Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Michelle Chiang said police urge everyone to have a security door installed at their houses.
“We would love for everyone to get a security door and need to hide valuables when they aren’t home,” she said.
“In these new housing estates, people don’t tend to have them because they have very nice looking new front doors they want out in the open.”
Det Act Sen Sgt Chiang also said people should be wary of suspicious behavior in their neighbourhoods.
“People also need to be vigilant of youths hanging around their streets,” she said.
“Victims of these burglaries have noticed groups of youths watching their houses and we believe they are casing them for when the victims leave.“
Police have confirmed these crimes appear of an opportunistic nature and although the young men are operating in a group, there doesn’t seem to be any connection to known criminal gangs.
“These crimes are definitely opportunistic,“ Det Act Sen Sgt Chiang said.
“They are sitting, watching and picking soft targets where the security is not at it’s best and looking for vulnerable points of entry.
“They are not necessarily organised.”
