Knife attacker

By Casey Neill
POLICE are still hunting the woman who attacked and stabbed a 69-year-old Ferntree Gully woman in Boronia last Thursday.
The attack prompted calls for greater police numbers and the urgent installation of security cameras in the area.
The elderly woman withdrew money from an ATM at Boronia Village Shopping Centre at about 10.35pm and placed the money in her handbag.
As she walked away she felt someone grab at her handbag from behind.
She held onto her bag and was stabbed once in her left hand and twice in her forearm in the short struggle that followed.
The female attacker then forcibly removed the handbag from the victim.
As the attacker ran off, a Wantirna man, 41, tried to restrain her and received a minor stab wound to his left hand, forcing him to release her.
He then chased the woman along Boronia Road towards Scoresby but lost sight of her.
The elderly victim was taken by ambulance to the Angliss Hospital with serious injuries.
She underwent minor surgery for her injuries at Maroondah Hospital on Friday 29 February and was discharged a few hours later.
The attacker is described as being 170cm tall, of thin build with long blonde hair.
Police said she was about 30 years old and was wearing dark clothing. La Trobe MP Jason Wood said crime in Boronia was out of control.
He said the attack highlighted a lack of police resources and the urgent need for surveillance cameras in the suburb.
“It’s the Government’s role to protect people,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Federal Government was not responsible for the installation of CCTV cameras.
“It’s up to state and local authorities to ensure public areas are safe,” she said.
Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling said Boronia residents, particularly the elderly, were deeply concerned by the attack.
“How many more examples does Premier Brumby need of crime in the area before he’ll act by increasing police numbers?” Mr Wakeling said.
Victoria Police’s spokeswoman Chloe Jones said there had been an increase of 52 police officers in the Knox Police Service Area since 1999.
Ms Jones said Victoria Police had in recent years adopted a new model to ensure the most effective and flexible allocation of resources.
The People Allocation Model takes crime, demographic, social and economic issues into account when determining police requirements.
Ms Jones also said that changes in procedures at Knox Police Station had led to more divisional vans being out on the road.