A sinister sign that urged Victorians to lock their doors amid a spate of violent crimes has sparked public anger over the lack of government intervention.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has faced mounting pressure to crack down on youth crime after two young boys were stabbed to death on Saturday.
An electronic message board, typically used by police to update drivers about traffic conditions, was spotted in Mornington in southeast Melbourne on Wednesday.
‘Lock your doors tonight,’ its foreboding message read.
‘Most common method of aggravated burglary entry? Via unlocked door.’
The sinister sign sparked fierce debate when it was shared online, with Victorians questioning why the state government wasn’t doing more to reduce crime.
‘My goodness, I’m old enough to remember sleeping with open doors and windows in summer and never worrying about my safety – what have we become?’ one wrote.
‘When Melbourne residents are told to “lock your doors” like it’s a war zone, you know Victoria is broken. This isn’t safety, it’s surrender,’ another said.
An electronic message board, typically used by police to update drivers about traffic conditions, was spotted in Mornington, southeast Melbourne, on Wednesday (pictured)
Young Melbourne boys Chol Achiek (left), 12, and Dau Akueng (right), 15, were attacked by a group of youths armed with machetes after playing basketball at their local stadium
The criticism escalated this week following the deaths of friends and schoolboys Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, over the weekend.
The two boys were walking home after playing basketball at their local stadium when they were ambushed by a gang of youths armed with machetes in Cobblebank.
It’s believed those responsible for the violent attack were angered by a meme referencing a young gang member who was stabbed to death late last year.
But neither of the young boys killed were part of a gang, nor were they connected to the stabbing referenced in the meme.
Dau and Chol died a week after Victoria introduced the machete ban and placed amnesty boxes outside police stations to allow people to hand in their weapons.
Frustrated Aussies claimed their deaths, with 12-year-old Chol believed to be the youngest victim of Melbourne’s crime epidemic, were proof criminals would never surrender their weapons and that Allan’s initiative had fallen flat.
‘I’m just shocked these kids didn’t put their machetes in the bins provided and abide by the machete ban announced by the Vic Premier! Shocked! I mean she asked politely,’ one person wrote.
‘I saw this coming from miles away. The only ones to benefit the machete ban is (Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan) and her mates who got $13million to build 40 metal bins. Imagine how many Aussie families it could have housed,’ another said.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) has faced increased scrutiny over new machete laws following the deaths of two young boys
Victorians slammed the state’s new machete ban and amnesty boxes (one pictured) as they believed criminals wouldn’t give up their weapons
‘To the Premier of Victoria, the machete and knife ban continues to work well. Two more kids dead and all you do is place boxes outside police stations,’ a third commented.
‘Boy, that machete ban and the new bail laws are working really well. Another two children hacked to death overnight,’ a fourth said.
The new law makes it illegal to own, use, carry, transport or sell knives without an exemption or valid approval.
Convictions could result in penalties of up to two years in jail or a fine of more than $47,000.
An interim ban on machete sales was fast-tracked by the state after a fight between rival gangs at Melbourne‘s Northland Shopping Centre left shoppers terrified.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines urged people to hand in their machetes as part of a three-month amnesty running until November 30.
More than 40 safe disposal bins have been installed at police stations across the state to allow people to hand in machetes without penalty.
The laws are among the toughest in Australia, alongside South Australia which enacted a ban on machetes and swords in July.
Victoria fast-tracked its new weapon laws following an armed fight between rival gangs at Melbourne ‘s Northland Shopping Centre (pictured)
Some 14,805 edged weapons were seized in Victoria in 2024, with another 8,900 confiscated by police between January and July.
Since May, a task force has completed 573 in-store and online inspections, as well as 2,400 market stall inspections, and found a high level of compliance with the ban.
Allan has urged parents to hand in machetes belonging to their children, noting young people make up 25 per cent of knife-crime offenders in the state.
There are exemptions under the laws for agricultural workers who use machetes as part of their job and for machetes that have a genuine traditional, historical, or cultural significance.
Daily Mail has contacted Premier Jacinta Allan for comment.
