By Luke Voogt
Geelong police are focussed on catching carjackers rather than just advising motorists to lock their doors, according to western Victoria’s top cop.
“The focus will always remain on the offender,” Superintendent Craig Gillard told a media conference on Wednesday after another carjacking in Geelong.
Two men carjacked a 76-year-old man driving a ute at the intersection of Station and Forster streets, Norlane, on Monday 22 August.
Supt Gillard described the daylight carjacking as abhorrent.
“I shudder that people are going to these lengths to commit crime.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that people in our community are experiencing these types of offences from time to time.”
Supt Gillard said the intersection was “busy at 2pm in the afternoon”.
“The victim has actually said some people passed him when the incident occurred.
“That’s not to say they ignored it – I think they didn’t understand what was occurring.”
Supt Gillard said policing always came first but conceded that locking car doors was prudent, especially when driving alone.
“I don’t say this is what you have to do in order not to be a victim of crime … (but) if they feel safer locking their doors, my view is that’s not a bad idea.
“Obviously I ask people to take every step possible to ensure they don’t become a victim of crime.”
Supt Gillard urged Geelong motorists to be vigilant and look out for each other on the road.
But he stopped short of calling Geelong the carjacking capital of the state.
“We’re experiencing similar things to metropolitan Melbourne, albeit not at the same volume.
“Unfortunately crime has no boundaries.”
Supt Gillard praised Geelong police for number of recent arrests related to car thefts.
“We’ve had a couple of these types of incidents in the last couple of weeks (that) we have offenders in custody for, which we’re very pleased about.”
Supt Gillard urged any witnesses to Monday’s carjacking to contact police.
