Rails of fear

By Lia Bichel
FEARS are rising for commuters on trains throughout the City of Greater Dandenong, as crimes such as burglaries and stabbings continue to plague the station.
Three serious offences have occurred in the past month, and commuters are saying the incidents are not isolated.
Fifteen-year-old Chelsea, who catches the Dandenong train daily, said she was scared to ride the train most days.
“I get really worried,” she said.
“There are a lot of trouble-makers on the train. A friend of mine got hit for playing music, and I’ve got threatened.”
Sixteen-year-old Ben said he gets nervous riding the Dandenong train after someone attempted to mug him.
“They asked me for my wallet and when I didn’t give it to them, they hit me with a belt.”
Last week, a 45-year-old man was stabbed on a train city-bound from Dandenong.
Less than a week earlier, a man received serious stab wounds following a brawl at the station and in November a man was robbed by a group of males while he was walking on Scott Street near the Dandenong station.
Police are investigating all three incidents.
The latest occurred about 11pm on 9 December.
Investigators were told there was an altercation between two males on a city-bound train.
The train had just left the Dandenong Railway station when the incident occurred.
It is believed that a 17 to 18-year-old man started arguing with a 45-year-old Murrumbeena man.
The argument escalated and the youth stabbed the man in the arm and stole his mobile phone.
When the train pulled into Yarraman station the offender, the victim and a number of other people exited the carriage.
Ambulance and police were called to the scene and the victim was treated for his wounds.
Police have three people assisting them with the investigation.
The offender is described as 17-18 years old and dark skinned.
Less than a week prior, on 4 December at 10.15pm, a 42-year-old man was on the corner of Scott and Thomas streets, walking towards the Dandenong train station when he was approached from behind by a group of two or three men.
Police said one of the men placed an unknown object against the man’s back and demanded his wallet before they left the scene.
At about 2.50am on 5 November, on the second level of the train station, a group of four youths got into an altercation with another group of 15 youths.
Police said one man from the group of four was stabbed.
All members of both groups fled the scene before police arrived.
Police said crime was declining, and they were ensuring the safety of commuters by targeting the surrounding environment of each station.
This included both overt and covert patrols throughout the rail system.
They said travelling on trains, particularly outside of peak times, was safer than ever.
Anyone with information on any of these incidents are asked to contact Dandenong Police Station on 9767 7444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.