Plaza crime clean-up

“YOU never know when the person next to you when you’re stealing is going to be a police officer, ready to arrest you for the offence.”
This was the warning from Greater Dandenong CIU Acting Detective Sergeant Luke Kirton following a two-week operation at Dandenong Plaza that nabbed 64 offenders in October.
Detectives and uniform officers in plain clothes arrested 26 people during the first week and 38 during week two.
Charges ranged from theft, burglary, handling stolen goods and obtaining property by deception to affray, weapons offences and drug possession.
Act Det Sgt Kirton said shop theft and anti-social behaviour were ongoing issues at the shopping centre, so police teamed with store security guards for the operation.
“These operations will be ongoing, particularly with the Christmas period coming up,” he said.
“We want to reduce the crime rate and make it a better place to congregate for the right reasons.”