POLICE IN MELBOURNE have significantly increased their presence in the Moreland area of the city where Jill Meagher disappeared, after a witness told police that he saw a man in a blue hoodie run after her, reports The Melbourne Age.
Police would not comment on those claims or reports that a local shop trader saw that a car perform a sudden u-turn at the same time.
Detectives hold grave fears that Ms Meagher, who has been living in Australia with her husband Thomas since 2009, was abducted while walking home alone last Saturday night from a bar in Sydney Road, Brunswick.
In an effort to reassure residents and increase public safety local police have launched increased patrols said the Victoria police force, a mobile Police Facility has been set up on Sydney Road near Hope Street while Fawkner Highway Patrol members will also be in the area along with plain clothes detectives, bike patrol members and uniformed members conducting foot patrols.
Acting Inspector Gary Stokie from Moreland said that the operation was about the local community.
“We understand local residents are apprehensive and we are here to reassure them and to listen to their concerns. We encourage local residents or anyone in the Moreland PSA to talk to our members.”