Coalition pledges CCTV to help stop break-ins in Mitcham

A MITCHAM shopping strip will get CCTV and better lighting to help prevent crime if the Coalition wins next month’s election.

Noel Jones owner Matthew Scafidi is thrilled with the commitment from Ringwood state Liberal MP Dee Ryall and Opposition Community Safety spokesman Edward O’Donohue.

A MITCHAM shopping strip will get CCTV and better lighting to help prevent crime if the Coalition wins next month’s election.

As it ramps up is law and order message, the Opposition promised cash for improved safety measures at Rangeview Shopping Centre following a trader’s call for help to stop the area being targeted by thieves.

Opposition Community Safety spokesman Edward O’Donohue and Ringwood state Liberal MP Dee Ryall met at the Mitcham Rd spot today to announce the Coalition would spend $200,000 towards installing CCTV, better lighting and signage outside the businesses.

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Mr O’Donohue said his party wanted the strip to continue to be “thriving and vibrant” without being vulnerable to further attacks.

The Noel Jones real estate office and cafe Two Brothers have both been broken into three times in recent years.

Noel Jones owner Matthew Scafidi is thrilled with the commitment from Ringwood state Liberal MP Dee Ryall and Opposition Community Safety spokesman Edward O’Donohue.

“Once is bad,” Mr O’Donohue said. “Two or three times is demoralising.”

Noel Jones owner Matthew Scafidi, who has been leading a call for help at the strip, said he was thrilled with the commitment.

“There’s so many people that use (the strip) every single day,” he said.

“The armed robbery really freaked everyone out.”

Armed robbers held up the Mitcham Rd post office at gunpoint in 2017.

Mr Scafidi said improved lighting in the area would play a big part in preventing overnight break-ins.

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His business has resorted to leaving office lights on at night to create some light at the strip.

Mitcham IGA Express is the only business at the shops with CCTV.

But its cameras failed to discourage thieves from ram raiding the shopfront three times in the past year, manager Jason Zhou told Whitehorse Leader in September.

Whitehorse Council voted down a suggestion to apply for federal funding for increased safety measures at the shops in September.

Labor spokesman Nathan Motton said the Coalition could not be trusted with law and order.

“We’re delivering an extra 60 police officers across the Nunawading division, which covers Mitcham, and giving police the powers, resources and tools they need to keep the community safe,” Mr Motton said.