Lilydale crime: Homeless moved from Melbourne to Yarra Valley motels | COVID

Ex-cons are believed to have been moved from the CBD to two Lilydale hotels, sparking standovers, drugs and prostitution.

One of the motels where rough sleepers have been put up.

Standovers, drugs and prostitution have been linked to a program to move homeless off Melbourne city streets into Yarra Valley motels.

Traders in the area have reported being forced to spend thousands of dollars on security after businesses were broken into, items stolen and a suspected organised crime racket set up in the past few months.

Earlier this year when the COVID crisis started, several Victorian agencies including homeless non-profits, the Department of Health and Human Services and Victoria Police joined together to get people off the streets who did not have a home to self isolate.

Two Lilydale motels have been contracted accommodate people who were sleeping rough.

Leader understands the man police allegedly shot after he rushed at officers with a knife outside Lilydale Marketplace on September 15 had a connection to one of the motels.

A Lilydale trader who spoke to Leader said since people had been moved in, there had been a regular police presence.

“There was a siege a few weeks ago and the SOGs were sitting out here keeping an eye on them,” he said.

He said there had been several break-ins to nearby businesses, with crooks believed to be running a dodgy business deals out of a factory they had broken into.

Another shop owner arrived at work to find a bag of drugs outside containing powder and pills earlier this week.

“The whole joint (motel) is just full of them,” he said.

“I don’t know where they’ve come from.”

He said traders often saw the motel’s guests out and about with one caught on camera trying to smash security cameras with a stick.

“They’re supposed to sign in and sign out (of the motel) but they’ve cut a hole in the fence and do drug deals out the back,” he said.

“Security cameras show cars coming at night.”

He said police had been good and patrolled nearby businesses and around the motel regularly.

Another trader said there had been a police chase through a nearby industrial estate.

“We see a lot of police activity and there were police chasing someone through the estate,” he said.

He said there were often people “out of their mind” on drugs wandering outside the motel and nearby streets.

“The guys over the road saw someone shooting up,” he said.

“It’s not great.”

He said many of the motel’s guests walked around in large groups.

“They used to have a security guard there but we haven’t seen him in a while,” he said.

“We see people sleeping in cars around here too.

“You see two cars turn up, that you haven’t seen before, and you know they’re dealing,” he said.

Neal Taylor, chief executive of outreach charity Holy Fools, said people coming out of prison had been moved to the hotels.

“There have been drugs, alcohol and even prostitution,” Mr Taylor said.

He said the people who had been put up at the hotels because they were legitimately struggling and needed help were being threatened and stood over.

“A couple of them are terrified of going back to their motel rooms,” he said.

Yarra Ranges housing support service Anchor has been one of the agencies involved in the program.

The non-profit’s chief executive, Heidi Tucker, said because of the pandemic a lot of people who were sleeping rough or couchsurfing did not have a safe place to stay which led to the COVID streetsafe housing arrangement.

“They were housed for their benefit and ours,” Ms Tucker said.

“The health advice (during the COVID restrictions) was that they shouldn’t be wandering around.”

Ms Tucker said she did not condone any criminal behaviour and that was a matter for the police.

“We lobbied DHHS hard to get these motels a security guard,” Ms Tucker said.

She said there was significant investment into social housing in the State Budget, which would help to find longer term accommodation for many of the people living in the hotels.

Yarra Ranges Inspector Jason Goddard the community could be assured police priority was making sure people were safe and felt safe.

“Police continue to conduct regular patrols in the Yarra Valley and Lilydale areas to detect and deter any criminal activity and to ensure the community is complying with the Chief Health Officer directions,” Insp Goddard said.

“These patrols are supported by specialist units including the public order response team, highway patrol, transit police and PSOs to boost our visibility and provide reassurance to the community.”

A Homes Victoria spokesman said public health and safety was the State Government’s number one priority.

“We have been working closely with the homelessness sector and hotels industry to provide safe and secure accommodation for vulnerable Victorians to self-isolate and manage any outbreaks during the coronavirus pandemic,” the spokesman said.

“We are grateful for the many motels, hotels and other organisations who have opened their doors to help people experiencing homelessness.”

He said Homes Victoria did not tolerate anti-social behaviour in accommodation it owns or leases from third party providers.

Both motels have been contacted for comment.