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Seminar to tackle crime in rentals

By Stacey Moseley
03 June 2013 | 5 minute read

As criminal activity continues to rise in rental properties, one network group are getting on the front foot.

According to CENTURY 21’s Victorian state manager Chris McKearney, agents need to be aware of increasing organised criminal activity.

“There is a growing problem of identity theft in order to secure rental properties for the use of clandestine drug labs," he told Residential Property Manager.

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After meeting with the St Kilda Crime Investigation Unit in Victoria, Mr McKearney thought it was pertinent to hold a seminar warning property management and sales staff of the risks inherent in these types of criminal operations.

“Our duty of care as employers of staff is to minimise the risk out there,” he said.

“We want to alert them to be a lot more aware of what’s out there in the marketplace.”

According to a report from the Australian Crime Commission, there were 99 clandestine meth labs found in Victoria in the 2011/2012 period.

The report found that Queensland had the most incidences of drug labs in rentals, with 379 clandestine meth labs found, more than double the number in Western Australia, which was 160.

There were 90 found in NSW.

According to Mr McKearney, a detective of the St Kilda Crime Investigation Unit will give a PowerPoint presentation on detecting criminal activity, a member of the Metro Fire Board will discuss the fire risks involved in the chemicals used in drug labs and a representative of the EBM insurance will discuss landlord insurance.

The seminar is open to CENTURY 21 property management and sales staff and will be held on Wednesday June 19.

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