By Emma Xerri
With six break-ins in the last nine months, beloved local business owner, Harry, of Harry’s Clothing in Berwick, has been forced to close up shop with plans to move the business to Cranbourne.
Staying overnight at the store for weeks at time, Harry has been hard at work doing everything he can to protect the business he has worked so hard to establish over the last 15 years.
“I’ve been staying overnight at the store for a week at a time, and then I’ll go home for a couple of days,” he said.
“But I wasn’t there when the last break in happened on Sunday because I had decided to go home that weekend. When I got the call, I just couldn’t believe it.
“After break in number four, we started making plans to move.
“It means I have to reestablish the business, which comes at a great cost, but that’s what I was forced to do. I’ve got to keep the business open to keep my staff employed.
“Because I’m locked into a lease, it’s been difficult, but the lease is coming to an end, so we’re hoping to be in the new location by the end of May.
“I hate to shut up shop in Berwick, because it’s a beautiful place to work, but to have this going on puts a black mark on my time here.
“And I’m sure my customers feel concerned and even unsafe when they come into my shop and see broken glass everywhere, so I can’t wait to move. I really can’t.”
Nestled in Loveridge Walk, just off High Street, Harry’s is one of many local businesses that are suffering from a lack of security cameras in the area.
And the shops of Blackburne Square appear to be part of a particularly troubling hot spot, with break-ins plaguing a variety of businesses, including Alainn Mae, who had an attempt late in March, and Billy Lidz, who had to deal with two attempted breaks in through the back door.
While her perpetrators haven’t been able to get in, Billy Lidz owner Kellie stresses that “there is still a mental and financial toll”.
“I’ve had to have the back door resecured a number of times, once out of pocket,” she said.
“And it’s the stress of waiting up all night for the alarm to go off. It’s definitely not something that you wish for for your business.
“I don’t have any security cameras in store, but I’ve been here for 15 years and I’ve never had an issue until now.
“In the last month I’ve had two attempts a week apart.”
Just next door to Billy Lidz, the staff at Stylemaker & Co Hair Salon have also experienced their fair share of troubling break-ins, with three in less than two years.
While it doesn’t deter “loyal” clients, “when it does happen, the first half of the day is knocked out to deal with everything”, salon owner Zana said.
“It’s extra time and stress that a small business should not have to go through,” she added.
“And it affects our insurance as well.
“I’ve now installed cameras myself, and an alarm system which I didn’t have before because I didn’t think it would be as bad as it is.
“It’s disappointing and it’s stressful and it’s about time for someone to do something about it.”
Local police are hard at work investigating the break-ins, of which they have received four reports between 21 February and 27 March 2024 on the northern side of High Street.
While they recommend not keeping cash on the premises after hours and securing the store as measures to improve security, for stores such as Harry’s and Stylemaker & Co, who already have their own cameras and alarms installed, this has simply not been enough.
City of Casey manager for connected communities, Callum Pattie, stresses that “council does not currently fund, install or operate CCTV in public areas, such as shopping strips, parks, playgrounds, reserves, walking paths, car parks or on residential streets and roads”.
And that “there currently is no legislation that requires council to install CCTV in public spaces.”
Mr Pattie also claims that “there are simple, practical and cost-effective strategies business owners to take to safeguard their business and property”.
“These include training staff in security procedures, keeping things locked up, installing your own cameras, alarms and signs and getting to know your business neighbours.”
However, Harry firmly believes that “there’s enough money coming out in rates from businesses around the area to support [cameras].”
“It is time to put security cameras up around the place,” he added.
“Especially in popular areas where the restaurant precinct is, because people are coming out late at night.
“And during the winter months, when it’s pitch black by around six o’clock, the workers, particularly women, who are working late in the beauty industries, are having to walk through dark car parks, where a lot of the lights are currently out.
“When they built the building I’m in, they had cameras, and quite good ones, because it was at the back of a bank. But over the years, the cameras have not been monitored and they have since died.
“I suggested I monitor the cameras, because I’m here seven days a week, but that didn’t happen.”
And Harry is well aware that the job of monitoring such CCTV footage is not the council’s responsibility, nor does he expect it to be.
Rather, he hopes the council can assist them in providing the cameras, and authorising access for the local business affected to certain CCTV spots that they otherwise do not have permission to access, a sentiment that is shared by Kellie at Billy Lidz who believes perpetrators are “targeting where they can’t be seen”.
“I strongly believe businesses need to look after themselves as well,” Harry said.
“In this area, we need to get everyone together and organise to have cameras placed in certain, crucial positions.
“If we can get council to support it by contributing cameras and providing us access to certain spots, then we would be happy to do our own monitoring, without adding an extra burden to them.
“We have a number of businesses who have cameras and are trying to pick up number plates, so we are active, but to get ideal coverage, we need council’s permission.”
