Police reveal mistake Vic residents are making that helps intruders break into their homes

Brazen thieves have been caught on CCTV going from house to house at night looking for easy ways in. Now, police are urging Melburnians to take one simple step to protect their homes.

Eight out of 10 home invasions in hotspot suburbs targeted by opportunistic young intruders occurred ­because residents left doors or windows unlocked, police intelligence shows.

Authorities are calling on Victorians to avoid confronting dangerous home invaders and to instead lock their cars and homes so they are less likely to be victims of the crime wave largely driven by youths carrying out aggravated burglaries.

Brazen thieves have been caught on CCTV going from house to house looking for targets, even trying to gain access by climbing through unlocked doggie doors.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Therese Fitzgerald, commander of the nightly youth crime and theft crackdown Operation Trinity, said the way to stop more people becoming victims of home invasions was simple.

Eight out of 10 home invasions in hotspot suburbs were carried out because residents left their doors or windows unlocked. Picture: Crime Stoppers

“Just lock the door and don’t put yourself at risk,” she said.

“When you come home, lock your car straight away.

“When you come in the door, lock the door behind you and put the key somewhere that can’t be seen so easily, so that you don’t make it easy for an offender.

“Offenders are gaining entry to homes through doggie doors, so if you have got those large doggie doors, just be conscious of how you keep them secure.”

As the state recorded a 27 per cent increase in home invasions last year, Victoria Police data released to the Herald Sun showed that 82 per cent of aggravated burglaries in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula – areas often targeted by thieves – followed doors and windows being left unlocked.

"Opportunistic" thieves are going door to door hoping to find unlocked homes and cars to rob. Picture: Crime Stoppers

Meanwhile, easy access to homes accounted for 69 per cent of home invasions in suburbs across Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse.

Unlocked doors and windows caused 65 per cent of residential break-ins in Kingston, Glen Eira and Bayside suburbs, where thieves were often seeking high-end cars.

It comes after the Herald Sun’s Suburbs Under Siege campaign, in which victims of harrowing home invasions pleaded for action, resulted in Premier Jacinta Allan winding back Victoria’s bail laws, making it hard for repeat offenders to receive bail.

Ms Fitzgerald said it was “very concerning” that youths aged between 14 and 17 were responsible for a large spike in home invasions and car thefts that left many residents traumatised.

Victoria Police Operation Trinity Assistant Commissioner Therese Fitzgerald said it was “very concerning” that kids between 14-17 years old were responsible for a spike in home invasions. Picture: Ian Currie

“When you go to anybody’s home while somebody is in their home, that’s a real invasion of someone’s privacy,” she said.

“Don’t make it easy for ­offenders to do that. We want people to lock their doors so they don’t have to have that feeling and go through that.”

Crime Stoppers on Tuesday is launching a new campaign, The Key to Safety: Is it Locked?

Chief executive Stella Smith said keeping houses secure was even more crucial in the coming weeks because thieves were more likely to target open and empty homes as people prepared to spend Easter and Anzac Day on holidays.

“A group of young people are targeting homes, and if you don’t want to be a victim, the easiest way to protect yourself is to lock your door,” she said.

“(It) can actually stop you from becoming a victim.”

Operation Trinity has ­arrested burglars and car thieves about 1600 times in the past year.

Anyone with information about home invasions should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.