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Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe Crime Watch News March 2012

Coming Eventa, Operation Crossroads, Gippsland's D24 Moving to Ballarat, Hot Spots Counterfeit $50 notes, How to Report a Crime, LV Young Citizen of the Year, Crime Reports for Boolarra/Yinnar, Churchill/Jeeralang,Morwell, Moe/Newborough, Traralgon.

By Malcolm Lawrence - 16th March 2012 - Back to News

Latrobe Crime Watch News

Latrobe Police Service Area

Neighbourhood Watch Creating Safer Communities

March 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

Saturday 17th March Gippsland Arson Prevention Program Display Bunnings Midvalley 0900 – 1100

Saturday 17th March Gippsland Arson Prevention Program Display Stocklands Traralgon 1300 – 1500

Monday 19th March – LTB2 (Traralgon west end) Meeting – Traralgon RSL

Tuesday 20th March - LTB3 (Freeman Park area) - Traralgon Secondary College – 7.30 pm

Saturday 24th March Gippsland Arson Prevention Program Display Moe K-Mart 1000 - 1400

Saturday 31st March Gippsland Arson Prevention Program Display Warragul Safeway 1000 - 1400

Monday 2nd April 2012 – Moe/Newborough Town Meeting – Moe RSL – Albert Street, Moe – 7pm

Tuesday 3rd April 2012 – Traralgon Town Meeting - Traralgon Police Station, Kay St, Traralgon – 7pm

Wednesday 4th April 2012 – Morwell Town Meeting – Morwell RSL – Elgin Street, Morwell – 7pm

Wednesday 11th April 2012 - Yallourn North Town Meeting–Yallourn North Bowling Club–7.30 pm

Thursday 12th April 2012 - Yinnar Town Meeting - Yinnar Hotel – 7.30 pm

Wednesday 25th April (TBC) 2011 – Churchill Town/CDCA Meeting - Churchill Community Hall - 7 pm

To contact our editor or to subscribe to our Crime Watch Newsletters, Latrobe, Baw Baw, Bass Coast or South Gippsland Crime Watch News, send an email to erd5nhwnewsletter@wideband.net.au To read past editions go to http://www.nhw.com.au/Eastern-Region/Latrobe and click Newsletters.

HOT SPOTS UPDATE

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS - IDENTIFY THIS SUSPECT PASSER OF COUNTERFEIT $50 NOTES

On February’s newsletter we warned the community to be on the lookout for counterfeit $50 notes which are being passed in Latrobe Valley shopping centres. New close circuit TV footage of the suspected offender has come to hand. Description: Female, aged in her 20s, blonde hair

Anyone who believes they have received a fake note is asked to retain it and call the police.

Fill in a Suspicious Incident Report which may be downloaded at the Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Website at http://www.nhw.com.au/Eastern-Region/Latrobe/Forms

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 Latrobe Criminal Investigation Unit on 5131 5049 or Morwell Police on 5131 5000.

OPERATION CROSSROADS THIS EASTER

Because so many people travel over the Easter period police patrolling during Operation Crossroads will be targeting fatigue, speed, driver distraction, seat belts and impaired driving.

During last year’s Easter period there were six fatalities, two drivers, two motor cyclists, one passenger and one pedestrian. Two of the fatalities were in Melbourne with four in rural Victoria.

Police will be out in force as high visibility through a strong police presence is the best deterrence for hoon drivers and enhances community safety on our roads. Every available police officer and hundreds of extra speed cameras will be used to target road toll hot spots.

Region 5’s Divisional Traffic Supervisor, Senior Sergeant Dave Watson said, "Police want travellers to enjoy their holidays at the same time as being responsible behind the wheel. Drivers must remember to slow down; drive to weather and road conditions; refrain from driving if affected by drugs or alcohol; plan their trip making sure they take a break every two hours to avoid fatigue; and ensure everyone in the car wears a seatbelt."

When Operation Crossroads was conducted over the 2011 Easter Period police in Australia and New Zealand administered 753,091 Random Breath Tests, charged 2,323 offenders with drink driving offences, conducted 2,677 drug tests with 122 positive tests, detected 3,514 licence offences, issued 46,041 Traffic Infringement Notices of which 43,078 speeding offences and impounded 749 vehicles.

GIPPSLAND’S POLICE COMMUNICATIONS MOVING TO BALLARAT

Victoria Police has announced Gippsland’s D.24 communications, located at the Moe Police Station, will be handed over to ESTA (Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority) who operate the State Emergency Communications Centre on Sunday 18th of March. The closure will free up six officers to return to operational duties in the Latrobe Police Service Area.

The relocation of Moe D.24 is the next stage in ESTA taking over all regional Victoria emergency communications. Ballarat D.24 closed in December 2010, followed by Bendigo last July, Mildura in December and now Moe. The D.24 office in Wangaratta will be the last to transition.

When Moe D24 Police Communications Centre makes its last transmission it will simultaneously be handing over control for Eastern Region’s Divisions Five and Six, which covers Latrobe, Baw Baw, South Gippsland, Bass Coast, Wellington and East Gippsland local government areas.

The relocation will see streamlining of the dispatch of emergency services to incidents using ESTA’s digital Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The CAD system means faster and more accurate deployment of not just police but also ambulance, CFA and SES resources.

For the public nothing changes. You still ring 000 for police attendance. The only difference is trained ESTA call-takers rather than local police will answer your call.

The original D24 communications centre for Gippsland was set up in Morwell 1985 at the old Morwell Police Station on Princes Drive with a staff of one sergeant and five troops. The original set-up was tucked away in one corner of the watch-house. It was soon moved into a stand-alone office and was upgraded to seven troops with a purpose made communications console.

It looked after what is now Division Five (West and South Gippsland) and after a short period the current Division Six (East Gippsland) came online. This meant the whole Gippsland region from Bunyip River in the west through to the New South Wales border and from Erica and Omeo in the north down to the coast was covered.

One operator, occasionally supplemented by the sergeant, was responsible for the entire area answering 000 phone calls, dispatching police response and providing services for police units on patrol. It was quickly found two operators were needed on the day shift. Melbourne was contacted via single side-band radio for criminal history checks and if units drove into the hills there were black spots where units had no contact.

In 1997 D.24 was relocated to Hazelwood Road at the temporary Divisional Headquarters with the expectation of communications being transferred to ESTA. However, in October 2006 when the New Morwell Police Complex was opened, D24 communications was still located in Morwell with an undefined future. Operations continued at the old Hazelwood Road location as there was no room for it in the new complex.

On the 21st of August 2007 the Hazelwood Road control room was relocated to modern facilities at the new Moe Police Station, where it has remained until the present. To cover the shortage of police members, the first public servant call taker-dispatchers were employed in the D.24 control room in December 2008.

There have been many significant and major events over the years which were overseen and coordinated by the members at Morwell and Moe D24. Events of significance include; the 1987 search for 9 year old Paddy Hildebrand at Wilson’s Promontory; the 1991 RAAF Boeing 707 air crash off Woodside beach killing all five crew; the 1998 Esso Longford Gas Explosion where two workers died and eight were injured; and more recently the 2007 and 2009 Gippsland Bushfires. They have also dealt with significant accidents, floods, storm damage and other bushfires.

Acting Superintendent Glenn Weir from Gippsland’s Division Five Morwell Police Headquarters said of the D.24 closure, "There have been many wonderful people working at D.24 over the past three decades. At times the work was very intensive and very stressful. Operators had to answer 000 calls at the same time as working the radio and dispatching police units. I thank these members, both police and public servants, for their outstanding service."

"Our members have performed marvellously but it is now time to move on and embrace 21st century technology and efficiency. The ESTA centre at Ballarat is a purpose built emergency communications complex where the call-taker and dispatcher can concentrate on their separate but essential tasks. ESTA will continue the 24 hour seven day a week service that Gippslanders expect."

"The ‘one stop shop’ facility which ESTA supplies for police, ambulance, CFA and SES will greatly enhance the service which will now be provided to Gippsland. With 600 employees ESTA will easily take over responsibility for Gippsland and ensure Gippslanders receive the quality of police service they are accustomed to."

FEBRUARY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH/SAFER COMMUNITIES GROUP REPORTS

BOOLARRA/YINNAR DISTRICT CRIME REPORT

ASSAULTS - 1 for Feb (Nil Jan) - One offender charged with make threats to kill as a result of a family violence incident.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 2 for Feb (Nil Jan) - One offender charged as a result of a family violence incident. A set of portable traffic signals from road works in Upper Middle Creek Rd were damaged overnight 3rd February.

BURGLARY - 2 for Feb (Nil Jan) - A chainsaw was stolen from an unlocked shed in O’Haras Rd around 12th Feb. A remote stolen from an unlocked vehicle was used by offenders to open the garage and the offender/s stole alcohol.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 7 for Feb (Nil Jan) - All except one TFMV were committed in the town of Yinnar overnight 12th Feb. All vehicles unlocked and various items were stolen. Police have spoken to a number of suspects.

THEFT - 1 for Feb (1 Jan) - Sometime between 27th January and 1st February offenders entered an open shed and stole a small fridge/freezer and chainsaw.

CHURCHILL and DISTRICT MEETING and CRIME REPORT (INCLUDES JEERALANG)

ISSUES FEB- Nil

CRIME REPORT

ASSAULTS - 5 for Feb (13 Jan) - In all incidents offenders have been charged.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 5 for Feb (8 Jan) - Two offenders charged. Bins were damaged when offenders ran them down with a vehicle in McDonald Way overnight on 1st Feb. A vehicle was damaged in Walker Pde overnight on 2nd Feb when offenders drew on it with a texta.

BURGLARY - 3 for Feb (3 Jan) - An ATOMIK TROOPER 110cc 4WD motorbike was amongst property stolen from a shed in Maple Cres around 21st Feb. Various tools, bar items and chainsaws were also stolen from a shed. A TV and laptop was stolen from a residence in Amaroo Dr sometime around 20th Feb.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 6 for Feb (6 Jan) - One offender charged with four counts of TFMV. The other two thefts involved fuels tanks being taken from a vehicle and boat in Catterick Cres overnight 12th Feb whilst fuel was syphoned from a vehicle outside an address in Maple Cres.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 1 for Feb (Nil Jan) - The ATOMIK TROOPER motorbike was stolen at the above shed burglary.

THEFT - 3 for Feb (Nil Jan) - A mobile phone allegedly lent to another person and not returned is being investigated. A scooter was stolen from the bike shed at Kurnai College on 24th Feb and a suspect has been identified.

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

MORWELL MEETING and CRIME REPORT(INCLUDES TYRES)

PREVIOUS ISSUES - Offensive charcoal looking drawings are being bill-posted in the CBD – Offending party identified and information passed to Latrobe City.

CRIME REPORT – SEX OFFENCES - Police are following up a suspect in relation to an indecent assault that occurred at the Morwell Railway Station.

ROBBERY - 2 for Feb (Nil Jan) - One offender charged with armed robbery whilst police are investigating a robbery committed near Ronald Reserve when four males assaulted the victim and stole cash.

ASSAULT - 20 for Feb (22 Jan) - In all except two incidents an offender will face either a single or multiple charges of assault. In two incidents a suspect has been identified and police following up. 13 were family violence oriented.

ARSON - Nil for Feb (1 Jan)

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 15 for Feb (33 Jan) - Five offenders charged. Damages were evenly spread between residential and business premises. Apart from two incidents of graffiti all damages were either smashed windows or signs damaged.

BURGLARY - 26 for Feb (17 Jan) - Two offenders charged with one facing five counts. 12 were committed on residential homes or flats with windows the most common point of entry. Cash, alcohol, DVD players, games consoles and TV’s were stolen.

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 9 for Feb (5 Jan) - The only offender charged is the same offender facing five burglary charges. Two incidents occurred in Maryvale Cres with fuel syphoned from vehicles on 15th and 21st February.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 5 for Feb (3 Jan) - The same offender facing burglary and TFMV charges is also charged with TOMV. Four of the vehicles stolen have been recovered with YBO130, an 89 Toyota Landcruiser White stolen from Princes Dr on 21/02/12 still outstanding.

THEFT - 16 for Feb (14 Jan) - One offender charged. There were three incidents where the victim left his/her purse or wallet behind and it was stolen. There were three thefts of fuel from local service stations where it appears false plates were used.

ISSUES RAISED FEBRUARY – Cars parked on the nature strip – Report to Latrobe City for attention of By-Laws Officers.

MOE/NEWBOROUGH MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES – Nil

CRIME REPORT - ROBBERY - 1 for Feb (Nil Jan) - One offender charged.

ASSAULT - 16 for Feb (23 Jan) - In all except one an offender has been charged. In George St three females were charged with intentionally cause injury. Police are following up a suspect in relation to an assault in Lloyd St.

ARSON - 2 for Feb (3 Jan) - Both were fires were related. At the rear of Harvey Norman 1st February a dumpster bin was set alight. Three days later a wooden crate nearby was also set alight but was extinguished before major damage was caused.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 13 for Feb (21 Jan) - Six offenders charged. A large number were to vehicles parked in driveways or residential streets, scratched with an unknown implement or had windows smashed. In one incident tyres were slashed.

BURGLARY - 13 for Feb (13 Jan) - Eight were committed on residential premises with five on sheds or garages. Most garages were unlocked or left open with a lawn mower, garden tools and power tools stolen. Forced windows were the main entry points for houses or flats.

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 8 for Feb (6 Jan) - All except two of the TFMV’s were committed at residential areas and all vehicles were unlocked with property visible. CD’s, iPods, cash and coins were stolen and a set of registration plates were stolen from a vehicle in a car park and were later used in the theft of petrol.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for Feb (2 Jan)

THEFT (OTHER) - 16 for Feb (8 Jan) - One offender charged whilst police are following up suspects in relation to two other thefts. Mobile phones continuously stolen from handbags in tea rooms and after being left behind at parties or in shops. Two water pumps were stolen from properties in Lake View Dr Tanjil South overnight 18th February.

ISSUES RAISED MARCH – Nil

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

PREVIOUS ISSUES - Hoon driving in and around Cameron St – advice provided re reporting.

CRIME REPORT - SEX OFFENCES - Two males charged with wilful and obscene exposure as a result of three incidents.

ROBBERY - Nil for Feb (1 Jan)

ASSAULT - 38 for Feb (30 Jan) - 31 offenders charged. 11 were related to family violence with police following up suspects in four others. Multiple assaults occurred in Breed St, Cameron St, Princes Hwy and Grey St (all two) whilst Franklin St had three and Kay St five. A number of incidents involved young females assaulting each other.

ARSON - 1 for Feb (1 Jan) - Offenders set alight a wheelie bin under a car port in Furlonger St. The ensuing fire caused damage to a couch and the roof of the car port.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 32 for Feb (31 Jan) – 10 offenders charged. A large number were committed on vehicles parked in residential streets or driveways, mostly scratching or smashing of windows on the vehicles. Streets where multiple damages occurred were Furlonger and Breed Streets with two each, Kay St had three and Princes Hwy had four.

BURGLARY - 9 for Feb (16 Jan) - One offender charged. A church, hall and an office were broken into whilst all other burglaries were committed on residential premises. Most involved forced entry through windows.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 14 for Feb (11 Jan) - Nearly all TFMV occurred in residential streets or driveways. A vehicle parked in the Stocklands Plaza car park had a number plate removed whilst another plate was stolen from a vehicle in a driveway. A battery was stolen from a vehicle overnight in a car park in Liddiard Rd.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 3 for Feb (3 Jan) - One vehicle was recovered. Two offenders charged with false report due to reporting their vehicle stolen when it had not been. One vehicle remains outstanding - SOH012, 2003 Ford Sedan Silver stolen 17/02/12 from Strathcole Dr.

THEFT - 17 for Feb (20 Jan) - Two charged with police following up suspects in a number where CCTV footage was available.

ISSUES RAISED MARCH – Nil.

YALLOURN NORTH MEETING and CRIME REPORT

ISSUES FEBRUARY – Nil.

ARSON - Nil for Feb (2 Jan)

PROPERTY DAMAGE - Nil for Feb (1 Jan)

BURGLARY - 1 for Feb (1 Jan) - Unknown offenders broke into the Yallourn North Football Clubrooms overnight on 5th February stealing an amount of soft drinks and alcohol.

ISSUES RAISED MARCH – No March meeting.

HOW TO REPORT A CRIME TO POLICE

There are three ways to report a crime to Victoria Police; via 000, your local police station or via Crimestoppers.

000 is the preferred method for reporting an emergency or a crime in progress. It is quick and immediate and cuts out the ‘middle man’. It should be used for incidents where an immediate threat is present or for safety reasons such as offences in progress, being witnessed or just committed, a motor vehicle accident where people are injured, a life threatening situation or disturbance of the peace or anti-social behaviour.

If you ring the local police station in these situations, unless the response vehicle is in the station waiting to resume patrol, the members taking your call must then telephone police communications (000) to pass the job onto a response vehicle on patrol.

If you need assistance in a windstorm, tree fall, hailstorm, flood or similar, telephone the Victoria State Emergency Service on 132 500. SES volunteers are on call 24 hours a day to provide emergency assistance if you or your property is affected by a flood or storm. Trained call takers will note the details and dispatch an SES Unit to your incident.

LATROBE VALLEY’S YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR SPEAKS TO MOE/NEWBOROUGH NHW

At the February Moe/Newborough NHW meeting Ellen McDonald, Latrobe City’s Young citizen of the Year, addressed the meeting outlining her work among Latrobe’s young people. Ellen received her award on Australia Day for her tireless dedication to the young people of the Latrobe Valley through her involvement as a volunteer with Headspace and the "Hype" FreeZa committee. Ellen is pursuing her goal of becoming a Vet Nurse and supports her younger sister.

Ellen is particularly keen to discourage young people from drawing graffiti and encouraging them to take pride in their towns through becoming involved in their local NHW/Safer Communities Group.

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

NEXT MONTH’S NHW/SAFER COMMUNITY GROUP PRESENTATION

HOW TO REPORT A CRIME TO POLICE

Commencing at April’s round of Neighbourhood Watch/Safer Community Group town meetings, our police Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, Leading Senior Constable Brett Godden, will give a presentation on a topic of the month.

As part of the Division’s Safer Community Unit (SCU), it is Brett’s responsibility to engage the public and address general community safety. Members of the SCU speak on a variety of topics including NHW, community and personal safety, stranger danger, family violence, crime prevention, graffiti, drink and hoon driving, motorised mobility devices and Indigenous and multi-cultural relations to name a few.

Members of the SCU, which also includes the Family Violence, Crime Prevention, Youth Resources and Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers, will speak to organisations such as Lions and Apex clubs, multi-cultural communities, education groups from kindergartens to schools to university groups, and to sporting and social groups such as football clubs and scouts.

The topic for discussion at Brett’s first presentation will be How to Report a Crime to Police. May’s topic will be Hoon Driving.

LSC Godden said, "Members of the public are often confused about whether or not they should report a crime to the police. When they do decide to make a report, they then become confused about how they should report it. To whom do they make the report? To 000, the local police station or crime stoppers?"

The degree of urgency of the complaint dictates the police number people should call. At the presentations, LSC Godden will clarify which number and when people should call. Sometimes it is not the police who should be contacted but the State Emergency Service, Ambulance, Country Fire Authority or other non-emergency service such as the local council, VicRoads or power companies.

When people are unsure whether or not to make a report it is not unusual for them to save it until they attend a Neighbourhood Watch/Safer Community Group meeting.

LSC Godden says "This is too late. Reports should be made at the earliest possible time so police can commence investigations. I will explain all this during the presentation"

LSC Godden invites all interested members of the Latrobe community to attend their local town meeting. Dates appear on the front of this newsletter. To arrange for members from the SCU to speak to your group or attend your event contact Leading Senior Constable Brett Godden on 5131 5085 or 0400 050 749.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au

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