FRANKSTON police’s Operation Shadow aims to investigate, disrupt and arrest known repeat offenders engaged in high volume crime.
Superintendent Glenn Weir, who heads Southern Metro region, said thefts of cars and from cars would receive a high priority focus, as would public order and anti-social behaviour at shopping centres and train stations.
“The state government has announced the provision of extra police and we hope we get our fair share in Frankston to bolster our capacity,” he said.
“Hopefully it will flow onto the whole Mornington Peninsula down the track.”
Superintendent Weir said the Frankston police district was suffering “an amazing number of high-volume crimes”, such as car theft and thefts from cars, house break-ins, petrol drive offs and assaults – many by repeat offenders.
“We know they are being committed by certain groups in the community and we make no apology for targeting them,” he said.
“Some will be identified by DNA or fingerprints but there will be many other policing methods used, such as having plain clothes and uniform police out and about in the community, as well as surveillance of people we know are no good, for example, in shopping centres.
“Operation Shadow – run from Frankston and Carrum Downs police stations – is about the intelligence assessment of what we see and who we see committing offences.”
Residents are invited to view the police Eyewatch Facebook page which aims to empower the community in crime prevention activities and ensure community safety.
The online forum for crime and anti-social behaviour runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Residents are invited to dob in offenders to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
