’People may have no choice’: Springvale vigilantism warning sounded
A SOCIAL media post suggesting vigilantes could be the answer to persistent violent crime in Springvale has sparked widespread concern.
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POLICE have urged for calm after an angry Facebook post suggested vigilantes could be the answer to recurring violent crime in Springvale.
“What we need are vigilantes it appears. No one else is doing anything to deter these criminals,” Ben Trinh, administrator of the popular Springvale Residents Page wrote.
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But Greater Dandenong Local Commander Mark Langhorn warned people taking the law into their own hands was a recipe for more violence.
“They should ring police in the first instance. They’re just going to get hurt,” he said.
“You can end up having violent confrontations.”
When contacted by Greater Dandenong Leader, Mr Trinh said he posted the vigilante comment after a recent aggravated burglary in the suburb, where a man barricaded himself inside his bedroom during a terrifying home invasion.
He stressed he didn’t condone vigilantism, but said the community may soon reach the conclusion there was no other recourse.
“There’s been more and more occurrences of these violent attacks in the last six months,” Mr Trinh said.
“I just think there’s no repercussions. If it continues at this rate, people might have to take matters into their own hands.”
Inspector Langhorn said it was concerning to him residents felt fearful but said violent burglaries were down 40 per cent in the area on the previous year.
“We’re not seeing more of these incidents. We’re seeing less that result in violent confrontations,” he said.
Liberal Mulgrave candidate Maree Davenport said “thinly spread” resources meant the community had no faith in the police and were “absolutely terrified”.
“We were broken into for the first time last year,” Ms Mulgrave said.
“We’ve since put in CCTV and a burglar alarm.”
She said residents should not put themselves at risk by resorting to vigilante behaviour.
Keysborough Labor MP and Attorney-General Martin Pakula said everyone in the community had a right to feel and to be safe but warned vigilantism was “never the answer”.
“It is something which Victoria Police has made clear on numerous occasions,” Mr Pakula said.
“Fifty new police officers have already been deployed to the Dandenong Division as part of our record $2 billion investment in Victoria Police,” Mr Pakula said.
Last year, an armed vigilante group began patrolling a Cranbourne street at night in a bid to deter would-be criminals, while frustrated Patterson Lakes residents banded together to keep a watchful eye on their streets as community concern over crime reached fever pitch.
Crime Statistics Agency figures show burglary/break and enter offences in Springvale decreased by 10 per cent from the year to March 2018 (206 offences) to the following year (185 offences).
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