The parking prank in a Craigieburn street that fooled police

Motorists have been caught up in an elaborate parking hoax in an otherwise quiet Craigieburn street. And it was so convincing even local police believed it. But who set it up, and why?

Drivers and police have fallen victim to a cheeky parking hoax in a Craigieburn street.

A fake “no parking” sign has fooled police, with unwitting motorists forking out hundreds of dollars in fines.

Motorists copped fines for parking in the false “no parking” zone in Whitley Crescent, Craigieburn, in March.

But the sign, which was attached to a utility pole, was not genuine and has since disappeared.

Five people who were fined have so far been identified and will be reimbursed.

Local resident Savleen Sudan, 39, fell victim when she parked in the street to catch a train from the nearby railway station.

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She prompted an investigation into the fake sign after receiving two infringement notices from police.

“I couldn’t find parking even in the usual spots so I thought I’d park there, then when I came back, on March 4, I got a parking infringement notice,” Ms Sudan said.

“I was literally frustrated because (the sign) was not clearly visible, and if the council or the traffic department put it there why wasn’t it clearly visible.”

The angry local thought the sign could have been a retaliation to people parking in the street due to a lack of available parking near Craigieburn train station.

“Maybe they thought people would stop parking (down the street) if the sign was there,” Ms Sudan said.

“We don’t have a choice but to take the train and if there are no parking spots where do we leave the car?”

After the council confirmed the sign was not genuine, Ms Sudan forwarded the information on to police, worried others had also been stung with a fine.

“Hopefully it’ll save some people some money if they’ve been given a fine over this fake sign,” she said.

“I’m a single parent, I got a $300 to $400 fine. Maybe I should just stay home and not work at all.

“Stop putting no standing or permit signs on the streets because people have to park their cars, they have no choice.”

Victoria Police said the sign has since been removed by an unknown person.

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Police are working to find anyone else who was issued with an infringement notice in the area, with five people set to be reimbursed so far.

An investigation into who erected the sign is ongoing, and anyone thought to have been issued an infringement from the sign is asked to contact Craigieburn police for reimbursement.

Hume City Council said the counterfeit sign was a police issue and refused to comment further.

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