A Melbourne mayor has issued an urgent call for more police and youth crime prevention programs following the death of a beloved grocery shop owner. Tachos said Brimbank’s police presence had reduced by 25 officers, while crime in the area had increased by roughly 9 per cent. Brimbank Mayor Virginia Tachos said the tragedy has intensified concerns about crime across the region. She is pushing for prevention programs targeting young people around crime hotspots and railway stations, similar to the Community Connector Program operating in Dandenong and Frankston. The push comes after five councils across Melbourne’s west banded together last week to demand more resources for the growing region.