This point has particular pertinence when considering the story of Michelle Bergelsohn, the owner of the Trentham Newsagency. 

Last week Mrs Bergelsohn’s store was the site of a break-in for the fourth time in four years.   A nearby real estate agent was also targeted on the same morning.

In the first two instances it was cigarettes which were the sought-after loot at the newsagent, but in more recent times the focus has moved onto cash. 

From an individual perspective, Mrs Bergelsohn has taken all the necessary steps to protect her business and to assist authorities in catching those responsible.  

In each of the break-ins, dating all the way back to 2013, CCTV footage has recorded the criminals whilst they brazenly smashed their way through the front of the store.

Thankfully, police have been able to catch one of the offenders in relation to last week’s break-in.  However the offender’s accomplices, and those who have broken into the store in previous years, remain uncharged.

In Mrs Bergelsohn’s words, this is not a criticism of the police who actively protect the shire and indeed regional Victoria at large.  It is simply a reflection of the fact opportunistic thieves have once again exploited a small country community which inevitably is at times left without an immediate police presence.

“The police we’ve got a fantastic but there’s just not enough of them, and they can’t be everywhere,” Michelle told The Advocate following the break-in. 

It’s a view which clearly resonates when considering the most recent Crime Statistics Agency data for the 12 months finishing in June. 

While burglaries and break and enters were up by just one on the 12 months prior, jumping from 141 to 142, thefts throughout the Hepburn Shire climbed more than 19 per cent during the same period, with 274 thefts recorded for the year. 

Couple this with the alarming statistics surrounding sexual offences, where the shire experienced a 181 per cent increase, and residents do indeed have cause for concern. 

While 24-hour police stations in small communities may be considered unfeasible, incidents such as that at the Trentham Newsagency give residents reason to ask for greater protection.