Neighbourhood Watch calls for Armstrong Creek police station

ARMSTRONG Creek’s Neighbourhood Watch believes the growth area is big enough to justify a police station, but despite Victoria Police saying there are no plans to build one, the group has warned residents against vigilante behaviour.

Neighbourhood Watch Armstrong Creek and Surrounds volunteer Dennis Petersen urged residents to report suspicious behaviour but does not support any form of vigilantism.

Petersen said he did not condone reports of people using “bait cars” or electrifying bicycles to catch thieves and deter theft following recent incidents in Armstrong Creek.

“It’s making things difficult; you shouldn’t do that,” he said.

“All you’re doing is making more problems for the police. You should be assisting the police.”

Despite Petersen’s call for a dedicated station, a Victoria Police spokesperson said crime rates were falling and there were no plans to build a station in the area.

“The community can be assured Armstrong Creek remains a safe place to live,” the spokesperson said.

“There was one robbery and three aggravated burglaries in the last year, with both offences dropping from the year before.

“Motor vehicle theft has also more than halved, with 16 cars reported stolen in the last 12 months.”

The spokesperson said officers from Waurn Ponds, Torquay and Geelong stations prioritise patrols of Armstrong Creek.

“We know feeling safe is important, which is why Victoria Police maintains a highly visible presence to detect and prevent crime,” the spokesperson said.

Petersen first noticed crime issues in Armstrong Creek about five years ago, which he partially attributed to population growth.

“The big thing that has changed is general crime in the area, which is no more and no less than anywhere else, but sometimes we get targeted [by criminals],” he said.

Number plate theft was the biggest single problem, he said, making the Neighbourhood Watch’s safe plate days, run in association with Victoria Police, the group’s most important activity.

Petersen said he meets with police weekly and is in regular contact with Corangamite federal member Libby Coker.

“It’s just helping the community to be a bit more proactive in looking out and not expecting it all from the police,” he said.

“You’ve got to do the things you need to do in 2026; it’s not 1980.”

Petersen suggested residents take simple steps to prevent crime, such as locking cars and removing valuables when unattended, locking front and garage doors even when at home, and storing car keys securely.

Petersen does most of the Armstrong Creek branch’s work himself and has recently recruited several volunteers, though he said he is seeking more.

For more information on Neighbourhood Watch Armstrong Creek and Surrounds, visit their Facebook page.