The teenager’s murder, committed in broad daylight while she walked alone in a park near her house – a daily pastime – brings close to home the fact that it could quite easily have been your daughter, your sister, your granddaughter or your best friend who was attacked and senselessly killed.

It’s a sad indictment that people now feel uneasy about such a common activity as walking through a park or along the street ... even during daylight hours.

This latest incident only enhances the need to be vigilant in the streets and parks of each and every city in Australia, particularly if you are alone.

A leading Victorian police officer now believes it is not safe for women to be alone in parks.

Detective Inspector Mick Hughes said on Thursday the “chilling” case of Masa Vukotic had highlighted the need for people, particularly women, to remain vigilant.

“I suggest to people, particularly females, they shouldn’t be alone in parks,” Inspector Hughes said.

He said people needed to be more security conscious, particularly when travelling alone. “We just need to a be little bit more careful, a little bit more security conscious and we, as a public, need to look after each other,” he said.

Inspector Hughes urged girls and women to jog with a friend if possible, or at least remain aware of their surroundings.

“I’m sorry to say, that is the case.”

Everyone should be sorry that’s the case.

It should be everyone’s right – female and male, young and old – to be able to walk, jog, run, ride a bike through any street and any park, particularly during the day, without the fear of being attacked, or worse.

Just like it’s a God-given right for everyone to feel safe in their own homes, at school, or at work, going about a daily routine like a stroll through a park should be a pleasure. But, the deaths of Jill, Sarah and now young Masa only go to prove that this is not the case in our world today.