D.I.Y SECURITY

NO CAM DO Crime-hit Pako traders ask for CCTV, govt gives them signage, safety tips

EMBATTLED Pakington St traders who pleaded for CCTV after record levels of crime in their shopping strip, have instead been given funding for an education program.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens, right, yesterday announced $10,000 in State Government funding to provide Pakington St businesses with toolkits including safety tips, advice on cleaning up graffiti, a self-assessment security audit and “no cash on premises” signs.

The traders had previously called for a CCTV system similar to the one that operates in the Geelong CBD, that sends a live feed into Geelong police station to be monitored 24 hours a day.

EMBATTLED Pakington St traders who pleaded for CCTV after record levels of crime in their shopping strip have instead been given funding for an education program.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens yesterday announced $10,000 in state government funding to provide Pakington St businesses with toolkits including safety tips, advice on cleaning up graffiti, a self-assessment security audit and “no cash on premises” signs.

Traders had previously called for a CCTV system similar to the one that operates in Geelong CBD, which sends a live feed into Geelong police station to be monitored 24 hours a day.

In the year ending June 2017 there were 57 commercial burglaries reported in Newtown and another 78 in Geelong West.

Acting police Inspector Graham Banks said in June the Pakington St shopping strip had “one of the strongest cases in the area” for CCTV funding.

Tonik owner Niki Nurnaitis said while Pakington St traders were feeling empowered to tackle crime in their area, they hoped the funding was just the start of more to come.

“The next step in the new year will be for the police to work with retailers and traders who want an audit of their business so we can identify our risks and then look at what infrastructure we need,” she said. “This kit is a great start.” Smash-and-grab victim Buster Herman, from Busters Bar and Grill, has been targeted by thieves multiple times in the past year and said he had resorted to sleeping with his mobile phone by his bed waiting for calls for help.

He said the funding was a good start to help protect traders who were developing positive relationships with police and the City of Greater Geelong.

“We hope now to see changes to the street landscape such as more lighting and cameras,” he said.

“We know cameras are a big expense so hopefully they don’t waste this money. The education though, this will get us all on the same page.”

In July Geelong police backed a call for CCTV cameras to be installed along Pakington St as traders battled with a series of burglaries across Geelong West and Newtown.

Almost 70 residents and business owners attended the police-run crime forum at the Geelong West Town Hall, where they raised concerns over repeat smash-and-grabs and stretched police resources.

Senior police said the popular shopping strip’s rate of crime warranted discussion about cameras despite the council knocking back pleas from traders to pay for CCTV.

Yesterday, Ms Couzens said the newly-funded education and awareness campaign aimed to show traders how to improve their own security.

She said traders would be given a toolkit that included signage, tips about displaying tills at night to show they are empty, and crime prevention through environmental design considerations.

“Traders can play an important role in helping to reduce burglaries and this education campaign and toolkit will give them fresh ideas about additional safeguards,” she said.