Casey Centre Shopping Centre attracting undesirables late at night, scared locals say
PEOPLE living near a Narre Warren shopping centre say it has become a late-night hotspot for “delinquents” to congregate to drink and vandalise and they are scared for their safety.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
RESIDENTS near a shopping centre in Narre Warren are being terrorised by vandalism and late night drinking sessions, according to a Casey councillor.
Raising an item of urgent business at a meeting in December, Cr Sam Aziz said groups of “delinquents” hung around one of the entrances of the Casey Central Shopping Centre creating problems.
“I have been contacted by residents in this estate ... there is an issue at one of the back entrances with vandalism and sometimes there are people drinking there and congregating there and it is not a nice environment,” he said.
“The estate is full of young families and elderly people.
“This is to remind Scentre Group of its obligations.”
Cr Amanda Stapledon said she lived nearby and also saw cars congregating near the back of the centre and people hanging around late at night talking and drinking.
The council will write to the Scentre Group to ask them to rectify the situation.
Narre Warren police acting senior sergeant Brad Johnstone said police had increased their patrols of public areas as part of “Operation Confidence” but said most of the complaints they received about Casey Central happened during the day.
He said police also went to shopping centres like Fountain Gate and Cranbourne Central.
“Youths causing trouble is the general description ... someone will call up and say they are being hassled and it might be kids just skylarking because they tend to come to shopping centres,” Sen-Sgt Johnstone said.
“We are aware of issues during the day and anti social behaviour recently.
“We have formed a traders association with the Casey Central managers to encourage regular reporting.
“We are not aware of any issues at night.
“We would encourage people to if things are happening at the time to report it by phoning triple-0 to get police down there.”
Scentre Group said they sold Casey Central last year.
Comment was sought from Casey Central centre management.