Dandenong Hub crime spree: Traders fear break-ins, vandalism
Business owners at Dandenong Hub are fearful they’ll be hit with more break-ins after falling victim to a shocking crime wave.
South East
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Break-ins, vandalism, a stolen set of master keys and the theft of $180,000 from a currency exchange store have left traders at a suburban shopping centre fearing for their safety.
The keys at the Dandenong Hub — which can open every store — were stolen from a handbag on the cleaner’s trolley before Christmas yet traders’ locks had not been replaced.
Shah Kazemi, owner of A1 Phones, said he had spoken to the body corporate team and was told changing the locks costs “too much money” and time.
“I’m really angry about this place, they (body corporate) don’t take responsibility … they don’t want to spend money,” he said.
“The keys were lost about two months ago and none of the locks have been replaced.”
Mr Kazemi installed two security shutters and his own cameras in the hopes it would deter criminals.
“I’ve been here for 16 years and in that time the (centres’) security cameras haven’t worked … only recently has the guy come around to fix them,” he said.
As a result there is no CCTV footage of the latest “crime spree” to rock the centre.
In recent weeks, there have been several break-ins with businesses being damaged and stock, cash and jewellery stolen.
Mr Kazemi said he lost nearly $35,000 in stock while Abdul Khadir Azimi said his shop, Kochi, was damaged when the front shutter was smashed in and silverware was stolen from a display cabinet.
Mr Azimi said the police were showing up too late and haven’t helped deter crime in the centre.
“I call (police) when something happens and they come the next day, but by then there is no point,” he said.
“We need police to patrol the area regularly.”
A money exchange store was also a target of the robbery with about $180,000 in cash stolen.
Owner of Atomik Hairdressing, Alexandra Papadopoulos, said she’s scared to come into work and only feels safe serving long-term clients while keeping the security shutters down during her opening hours.
“I’m a one-man band and a single mother of two, I don’t feel safe working here … I’m scared to come and sit at work,” Ms Papadopoulos said.
She also told Leader that since the set of keys were stolen, she’s worried there will be more crime.
“The person who took the keys could come back at any time … we aren’t being protected by the committee but we still have to pay our fees,” she said.
Ms Papadopoulos said the hub had also becoming a popular spot for students from surrounding high schools to meet up at night to fight or “smoke dope”.
“They do it here because they can,” she said.
One security guard is on patrol during the centre’s opening hours but Ms Papadopoulos said she often saw him sitting in one spot and if something were to happen, she would have to wave him down.
A visitor to the centre told Leader the centre was “frozen in time” and still displayed “gross relics of the past”.
Ace Body Corporate was contacted for comment.
