By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
ANOTHER car has been stolen in Casey after thieves broke into a Doveton house on the weekend and took the keys.
The silver CX7 Mazda was stolen from outside the Rebecca Street home about 2.25am on Saturday 5 December after the thieves broke in through a rear sliding door and stole the car keys from the kitchen while the occupants were sleeping.
The victims awoke as the car sped off, allegedly doing a burn out in the process.
The theft comes despite Detective Senior Sergeant Rodney Moroney, of Casey CIU, telling Star News last week that locking up eight or nine “main offenders” had slowed down car thefts.
He said the rate of car thefts had fallen from roughly three a day to now one a week.
“This is our one a week,” he said of the Doveton theft.
Last week, Star News reported how police have arrested several young members of a so-called ‘Apex Gang’, who have broken into homes to steal car keys and vehicles in Melbourne’s south-east in recent weeks.
But Det Sen Sgt Moroney said the crime spate extended wider than just the Apex Gang members, who were typically aged between 15-25.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen, regional commander of Greater Dandenong police, said there was a trend across metropolitan Melbourne of this type of crime.
Over the past month, up to 15 young people had been charged in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Frankston, he said.
“It’s a broader spectrum than just this Apex Gang. It involves a wide age group. It’s not one particular culture.”
Some of the stolen cars were being used to commit armed robberies, some for joy riding and also to be stripped down for parts.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
