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Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe Crimewatch News, Latrobe Police Service Area August 2012

Coming Events, Hot Spots, July NHW Safer Communities Group Reports, List of Outstanding Stolen Vehicles.

By Malcolm Lawrence - 21st August 2012 - Back to News

Latrobe Crime Watch News

Latrobe Police Service Area

Neighbourhood Watch Creating Safer Communities

August 2012

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Emergency 000, Mobiles 112, State the service you want – Police, Ambulance or Fire.

Police: Boolarra 5169 6222, Churchill 5122 1790, Moe 5127 2222, Morwell 5131 5000

Traralgon 5174 0900

Crime Stoppers

1800 333 000

Neighbourhood Watch & Safer Communities

Unit – Latrobe PSA, L/S/C Brett Godden, 5131 5085, 0400 050 749.

brett.godden@police.vic.gov.au

Facebook: Senior Constable Brett

Child Protection 13 12 78, Consumer Affairs 5116 5701, Dept Primary Industry 136186.

Dispute Settlement Centre 1800 658 528, Latrobe City 1300 367 700.

Nurse on Call 1300 606 024, Poisons Information 13 11 26,

VicRoads 131170

COMING EVENTS: OPEN INVITATION TO ALL LATROBE VALLEY RESIDENTS

Monday 3rd September 2012 – Moe/Newborough Town Meeting – Moe RSL – Albert Street, Moe – 7pm

Tuesday 4th September – Traralgon Town Meeting - Traralgon Police Station, Kay St, Traralgon – 7pm Wednesday 5TH September 2012 – Morwell Town Meeting – Morwell RSL – Elgin Street, Morwell – 7pm

Wed 19 Sept - LCC Community Safety And Wellbeing Forum - Turfside Function Centre, Moe - 10 am

Wednesday 20th September - Yinnar Town Meeting - Yinnar Hotel – 7.30 pm

Wednesday 26th September 2011 – Churchill Town/CDCA Meeting - Churchill Community Hall - 7 pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 - Yallourn North Town Meeting–Yallourn North Bowling Club–7.30 pm

HOT SPOTS – POLICE NEED THE PUBLIC’S HELP

FIREARM DISCHARGED TWICE AT MOE RESIDENCE

At approximately 2.45 a.m. on Tuesday 31st July, unknown offender(s) attended at a residential address in Hennessey St, Moe. The offenders discharged a firearm through the front bedroom window of the residence.

Another incident occurred at the same address at around 2.30 a.m. on the 2nd August. On this occasion a single shot was fired into another window of the residence.

Of extreme concern to police is that the occupants were home at the time of each shooting. The seriousness of the situation is not lessened by the fact there have been no injuries.

Police urge anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact Crime Stoppers on: 1800 333 000 or visit: www.crimestoppers.com.au or ring Senior Detective Ormerod, Latrobe Criminal Investigation Unit on 5131 5049.

SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS

Police would like to remind the owners of firearms of their responsibilities and legal requirements for the safe storage of firearms.Gunsafes are the most secure option.

SCHEDULE 4 in the Firearms Act 1996 sets out the storage requirements for longarms as follows;

Longarm licences for category A and B longarms

(1) The firearm must be stored in a receptacle-

(a) which is constructed of hard wood or steel that is not easily penetrable; and

(b) which, if it weighs less than 150 kilograms when it is empty, must be fixed to

the frame of the floor or the wall of the premises where the firearm is kept in

such a manner that it is not easily removable; and

(c) which, when any firearm is stored in it, is locked with a lock of sturdy construction.

(2) If more than 15 firearms are stored on the premises where the firearm is stored, the premises

must be fitted with an intruder alarm system.

(3) Any cartridge ammunition for the firearm must be stored in a locked container separate from the

receptacle in which the firearm must be stored.

To further secure your firearms you could consider building a lockable metal cage inside a farm building for firearm and tool storage and consider installing external security lights.

JULY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH/SAFER COMMUNITIES GROUP REPORTS

YALLOURN NORTH MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES – Nil

SEX OFFENCES - One offender charged with an offence of a sexual nature.

ARSON - 1 for July (1 June) - Overnight 16th July offenders set a picnic table and bin alight in Reserve St.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - Nil for July (1 June) - One offender has been charged with wilful damage during July.

BURGLARY - Nil for July (1 June)

THEFT (OTHER) - 1 for July (1 June) - Sometime between 7th and 9th July offenders stole the padlock and chain from the entrance to the Yallourn North Football Club ground. Although there is evidence a vehicle drove in it would appear that the buildings have not been entered.

AUGUST ISSUES – Nil

CHURCHILL and DISTRICT MEETING and CRIME REPORT (INCLUDES JEERALANG)

ISSUES JULY – Nil

ASSAULTS - 6 for July (4 June) - In all incidents an offender has been charged.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 6 for July (2 June)- Four offenders charged. Four tyres on a vehicle in Howard Ave were slashed overnight 27th July.

BURGLARY - Nil for July (6 June)

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 1 for July (6 June) - An iPad was stolen from a vehicle parked outside an address in Amaroo Dr overnight 29th July when offenders smashed a window to gain entry.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for July (3 June)

THEFT - 4 for July (1 June) - Police are following up suspects in relation to three of the thefts. An Onga brand electric pump was stolen from the Yinnar South CFA building sometime between 16th and 23rd July.

ISSUES RAISED JUNE – Meeting not held at time of publishing.

MORWELL MEETING and CRIME REPORT(INCLUDES TYERS)

PREVIOUS ISSUES - State of disrepair of old Village Cinema in Buckley Street – Brett to contact owner.

SEX OFFENCES - One offender charged with indecent assault.

ROBBERY - 1 for July (Nil June) - Police are following up two suspects in relation to an armed robbery.

ASSAULT - 28 for July (22 June) - 22 offenders charged, seven as the result of family violence incidents and four involving assaults on police. Police are following up suspects in relation to four of the incidents.

ARSON - 4 for July (2 June) - Police are following up a suspect in relation to a vehicle which was set alight on the front lawn of a residence in Airlie Bank Rd overnight 14th July. A Molotov cocktail, which failed to ignite, was thrown into the yard of a residence in Keat Crt overnight on 22nd July.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 23 for July (31 June) - Ten offenders charged. Twelve of the damages were committed at residential premises with vehicle windows, lounge room windows and two letterboxes making up the sum of damages. Overnight on 8th July offenders sprayed graffiti on a vehicle and window in Davey St and Janes St with a white swastika.

BURGLARY - 9 for July (15 June) - Seven were committed on residential premises across town. A variety of camping equipment was stolen from a shed in Denise St between 20th and 24th July. Camping equipment was also stolen from another residential premises around the same time.

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 13 for July (10 June)Two offenders charged with one facing two counts. Two unlocked vehicles in Gillies Cres were entered overnight on 8th July with GPS units and CD’s being stolen. Overnight on 28th July offenders put a vehicle up on blocks and stole all four tyres and rims from an address in Vincent Rd.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 3 for July (8 June) All are still listed as outstanding stolen vehicles – Unregistered Pit Bike yellow stolen 23/07/12 from Well St, Morwell; OBC991 – Ford S/Wagon blue – stolen 8/07/12 from Avondale Rd, Morwell; Nil rego – 85 Ford Sedan blue – stolen between 28/06 and 7/07/12 from Dell Circuit, Morwell.

THEFT - 9 for July (14 June) - Two offenders charged. A trailer stolen from a business in Lignite Crt is described as blue with a 3 foot cage attached. Another trailer was stolen from S & S Equipment in McQuade St and had a welder attached to it.

ISSUES RAISED JULY – Youths drinking in vehicles in the Crinigan Rd reserve near the BBQ area - passed to Morwell for tasking and patrols.

MOE/NEWBOROUGH MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES - Lloyd St Railway crossing – Pedestrian gates and the amount of time allowing pedestrians to cross – passed to V/Line for review.

ROBBERY - 1 for July (Nil June) - Police are investigating an assault and robbery committed in Fowler St on 1st July.

ASSAULT - 23 for July (22 June) - 16 offenders charged. Police are following up a suspect in relation to a pursuit (recklessly endangering life) on 24th July whilst incidents in Vale St and Powell St where the possible offenders are known to the victims are being followed up.

ARSON - 3 for July (2 June) - Two offenders face three counts each of criminal damage by fire occurring in the Ollerton Ave area on 19th July.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 15 for July (15 June) - Five offenders charged. Unknown offenders damaged three vehicles parked in the street or driveway in Alexander Ave overnight 14th July. Mirrors, aerials and windscreen wipers were broken in the damage spree.

BURGLARY - 8 for July (13 June) - Two offenders charged. Burglaries were evenly spread between residential and business premises with cash being the main item stolen.

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 16 for July (7 June) - One offender charged. 13 of the vehicles entered were in residential driveways or outside residential addresses with 10 being unlocked with property inside. Overnight on 22nd July four unlocked vehicles were entered with an attempt made on a fifth in the Comans Way/Orion Crt/Taurus Way area.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 5 for July (1 June) - Three offenders charged. Four of the vehicles have been located and returned to the owners. TTT579, a 1992 Honda Sedan Silver stolen 13th July from Service Rd, Moe remains outstanding.

THEFT (OTHER) - 17 for July (15 June) - Two offenders charged. Five involved items being stolen from shops with three incidents involving the theft of fuel from service stations. Police are following up a suspect for the theft of a generator from Home Hardware on 16th July. This person is also a suspect for a number of thefts in other areas.

ISSUES RAISED JULY - Graffiti on sign on bridge over westbound lanes of freeway at Hernes Oak - passed to Vic Roads for attention.

TRARALGON MEETING and CRIME REPORT (INCLUDES GLENGARRY, TOONGABBIE, HAZELWOOD NORTH, TRARALGON SOUTH)

PREVIOUS ISSUES - Youths lighting small fires in vicinity of Cameron St shops - to be passed to Traralgon for patrols. Kids throwing stones at buses and another residence - to be passed to Traralgon for patrols. Young children playing in kinder over weekends and school holidays - advised that without a complaint about damage or trespass from governing authority there is nothing to pursue. Bollard from Farrington Parade Park is now at a residential address - to be passed to Traralgon Police.

SEX OFFENCES - One offender charged with an offence of a sexual nature.

ASSAULT - 29 for July (20 June) - 26 offenders charged with 18 coming to notice as the result of family violence incidents. A number of offenders will face multiple charges with two facing charges of breaching intervention orders.

ARSON - 5 for July (Nil June) - One offender charged with criminal damage by fire. Bins in Cameron St, Seymour St and Methodist Lane were damaged when contents were set alight. 4 mattresses in a back yard in Grey St were set alight on 21st July.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 45 for July (31 June) - 16 offenders charged with half the result of family violence incidents. Overnight on 3rd July offenders threw wheelie bins at windows of residences in Kay St and Whitakers Rd.

BURGLARY - 18 for July (12 June) - One offender charged with attempted burglary whilst another will face two charges of burglary. A third has been charged with three counts of burglary and is a suspect in two others. Café Aura and Tyler, Tipping and Woods were both entered overnight 7th July with a tips jar being stolen from the café and a vending machine being entered at the law office.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 12 for July (12 June) - Of the twelve thefts nine were committed in residential driveways or outside residential addresses. There were three incidents where one registration plate was stolen whilst in another both plates were stolen and later used in a petrol drive off. One of the vehicles was broken into nearby the burglaries on Café Aura and Tyler, Tipping & Woods.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 3 for July (3 June) - One vehicle has been recovered. XSN826 – 2009 Ford Sedan Black stolen on 8th July from Hyde Park Rd, Traralgon and 1D9YP – 2012 Piaggi PSIM07 Solo black stolen 7th July from Collins St, Traralgon remain outstanding.

THEFT - 14 for July (12 June) - A laptop, camera, CD player and cash were stolen from the office of the Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning Centre on 26th July whilst police are following up a suspect in relation to a theft of clothing from Coles.

ISSUES RAISED JUNE – Nil

BOOLARRA/YINNAR DISTRICT CRIME REPORT

ASSAULTS - 1 for July (Nil June) - One offender charged with recklessly cause injury and unlawful assault as the result of a family violence incident.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 1 for July (1 June) - A window at the Boolarra Primary School was damaged sometime between 29th June and 15th July when unknown offenders have thrown a brick through a window.

THEFT - Nil for July (1 June)

OUTSTANDING STOLEN VEHICLES - REPORT THE LOCATION OF THESE VEHICLES TO POLICE

If you see a vehicle being stolen or dumped, call 000 immediately and ask for police..

If you know where a vehicle may be located contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit: www.crimestoppers.com.au

POLICE ADVISE THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO APPROACH THE OFFENDERS. INSTEAD CALL POLICE ON 000.

The Suspicious Incident Report may be downloaded at the NHW Website at http://www.nhw.com.au/Eastern-Region/Latrobe/Forms

VISIT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH’S VIRTUAL SECURITY TOUR PAGES

Neighbourhood Watch’s Virtual Tours are interactive computer programs which enable you to conduct safety and security audits on your own property using sophisticated 360° digital imaging. There are five tours available and they can be viewed at our State Neighbourhood Watch website. Hover your computer mouse over this link, http://www.nhw.com.au/Virtual-Tours and at the same time hold down your control button, left click and you will be taken direct to the page. The tours you can choose from are;

Virtual Factory - How secure is your factory? Explore the Virtual Factory Program for security and crime prevention strategies to target harden your factory.

Virtual Building Site - Millions of dollars are lost through building site theft and vandalism. This tour contains information and documents that builders and owner builders can use to prevent theft and vandalism. The Virtual Building Site uses the Flash Plug-in.

Virtual Car - Learn about the 5 key areas of safety and security and how an immobiliser can help prevent the theft of your vehicle. The Virtual Car requires Apple QuickTime to function.

Virtual House - Conduct your own home safety and security survey, learn about the importance of property marking and print out your results at the end of the tour. The Virtual House uses the Flash Plug-in.

Virtual Bike - Virtual Bike covers a multitude of safety and security issues designed to encourage safe, effective, practical cycling in the community, in an effort to reduce the extent of road trauma amongst cyclists.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS - SECURE YOUR NUMBER PLATES WITH ONE-WAY SCREWS

Number Plate theft is an ever-present element of theft from motorcar crime statistics. Owners often do not know their number plates have been stolen until police come knocking on the door to inform them the number plates have been used in an armed robbery, burglary or a petrol drive-off from a service station. The theft of number plates causes great inconvenience to the owners of motor vehicles. If you wish to have the peace of mind of knowing you will not fall victim to number plate theft, fix one way screws to your vehicle. The screws can only be removed using a specially designed security screwdriver kept at most Victoria Police Stations and at VicRoads’ offices. For more information contact your local NHW Police Coordinator.

IT IS COMPULSORY TO REGISTER YOUR DOG OR CAT IN LATROBE

Under Section 10 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all cats and dogs over 3 months old must be registered.

In Latrobe City, all cats or dogs registered for the first time must be implanted with a microchip and be desexed (you can apply for an exemption.) The animal will not be registered until the owner provides proof these procedures have been completed. Owners of dogs and cats moving into the municipality must show proof of micro-chipping.

• Registration fees are due and payable by 10th April annually and reduced fees are available for eligible community members holding concession cards.
• It is the owners’ responsibility to properly secure their animals and ensure rules about the keeping of cats and dogs are complied with, including not allowing dogs to wander outside the owners' premises.
• Animal infringement fines can be fairly substantial so the owners must know their responsibilities. Some examples of offences, fines and owners’ responsibilities include:
• Ensuring registration tags are attached to the dog's or cat's collar when the dog or cat is outside the owners’ premises (Penalty $70).
• It is an offence to allow an unregistered dog or cat to wear council tags (penalty $70)
• Ensuring dogs are leashed unless in an 'Off Leash' designated area.
• If your dog or cat creates a nuisance the penalty is $70;
• If the dog or cat is in a prohibited place the penalty is $141.
• The penalty for allowing your dog to be at large or not securely confined at daytime is $211, increasing to $282 if the dog is at large or not securely confined at night.
• The most hefty fine is for failing to apply to register a dog or cat and that fine is $282.
• If your animal is found wandering and is impounded you may be issued with fines.
• If you find your animal to be missing you can search for it at Latrobe City Council’s online Animal Impound Register at http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/impound/ This is also where you can search for an animal to adopt (you can also search the register for livestock and impounded motor vehicles.) Animal viewing times at the Council’s Pound in Driffield Road Morwell are 9 am to 9.30 am and 4.30 pm to 5 pm Monday to Friday or by appointment.

You can contact Latrobe City’s Local Laws’ Team on 1300 367 700.

Pound Release Fees are $26.00 for a registered animal, $72 for an unregistered animal and $100 if the animal has previously been impounded. You will also pay $14.00 per day for animal sustenance, $44 if your animal is not yet micro-chipped and for desexing of a male cat $85.00, male dog $150.00, female cat $160.00 and for a female dog $260.00 (For micro-chipping and desexing you will receive a voucher from council to use at one of council’s contracted vets.) You will also have to pay the registration fee of $34 ($17 pensioner concession) for your animal.

To top this off you may also receive a fine for allowing your animal to be at large ($211 day or $282 night) and for failing to register your pet $282.

So if you have not registered or micro-chipped your female dog, it is in the pound for a week after being found wandering at night for the second time and your desexing and micro-chipping vouchers have expired, it will cost you a massive $1066; ($100 pound release + $98 sustenance + $44 micro-chipping + desexing $260 + wandering at night fine $282 + failing to register fine $282)

So pay to register your dog or cat, it is a lot cheaper than the fines that follow if you do not.

Source: http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/Services/Animals/

LATROBE CITY COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELLBEING FORUM

DATE: Wednesday 19 September 2012 VENUE: Turfside Function Centre Waterloo Rd, Moe

TIME: 10 am start RSVP: Friday 14 September 2012

This forum will provide useful information, advice and tips to improve home safety within our homes and neighbourhoods. The program for the day will include a series of guest speakers and panel discussion. Further details will be available soon. To register your interest or for more information contact a Community Development Officer on 1300 367 700.

HOT SPOTS – POLICE NEED THE PUBLIC’S HELP

THEFT OF POLARIS QUAD BIKE FROM TRARALGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB

Police are investigating the theft of a red Polaris XP 550 quad bike from a storage facility at the Traralgon Motorcycle Club at Traralgon South overnight Thursday 2nd August. Also stolen were a tractor top link and a portable 400-litre diesel fuel tank.

The equipment was at the track whilst the club was preparing for the Gippsland Centre Races. Club members are concerned that offenders have taken property belonging to an organisation that relies heavily on volunteer support to acquire equipment.

Police believe that at least one person and possibly a large trailer or truck was used to remove the bike and other items.

Police urge anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au or ring Detective Sergeant Rumble, Latrobe Criminal Investigation Unit on 5131 5049.

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS - ‘DO NOT KNOCK’ STICKERS

Are you sick of door-to-door salespeople knocking on your door and pressurizing you to purchase items you do not need, sign up for a service you do not want or switch from a company you are happy with?

Door-to-door salespeople are only permitted to knock on your door between the hours of 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. They are prohibited on Sundays and public holidays unless you have previously given your consent. They must leave your property when you ask them to.

The Consumer Action Law Centre provides ‘Do not knock’ stickers which you can put on your door to warn sales people that they are breaking the law if they knock on your door. The sticker clearly states salespeople are not welcome at your address.

You can order a sticker or print one up by visiting the Do not knock website at http://donotknock.org.au/

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au

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