Help stop present thieves

Wangaratta Leading Senior Constable Helen Parfett said thieves targeted anything that was available while people were on holidays.

This even includes small items like garden gnomes, statues and outdoor settings in gardens.

“We don’t want people to advertise what presents they have received at Christmas time by putting empty boxes on nature strips for them to be seen,” she said.

“The boxes just show what people have received and advertises that they’ve been given some good presents.

“We’re finding ornamental things that are placed at the front of houses tend to go missing around the December period.”

Leading Senior Constable Parfett said retail outlets were also popular with thieves at this time of year as staff members were often busy. 

“Shop stealing offences do increase,” she said.

“The shops become very busy and staff are distracted.

“They can’t watch everyone in their shops.”

Business owners and staff are also urged to lock the rear doors to their properties and keep wallets and personal property secure.

“We just want to make sure everyone can have a nice and safe Christmas without becoming a victim of crime,” Leading Senior Constable Parfett said.

“Everyone wants to enjoy themselves and not be a victim of theft.

“It can be quite distressing for people to have their gifts stolen, especially for children.

“People do a lot of hard work to be able to provide the gifts and the impact it would have on children to have their Christmas gifts stolen would be unimaginable.”

People are being urged to lock their doors and windows when they go away on vacation and have a friend or neighbour collect their mail.

They are also advised against documenting their movements on social media. 

“We would like to encourage everyone to put their security and safety first these holidays,” Leading Senior Constable Parfett said.