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Neighbourhood Watch Latrobe Crime Watch NewsMoe/Newborough Neighbourhood Watch Safety Audit, Yallourn North, Moe/Newborough, Churchill, Traralgon and Morwell Crime Reports. By Malcolm Lawrence - 23rd June 2011 - Back to News Latrobe Crime Watch News
Latrobe Police Service Area
Neighbourhood Watch Creating Safer Communities
JUNE 2011
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
MOE/NEWBOROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AND SAFER COMMUNITY GROUP CONDUCTS ITS FIRST COMMUNITY SAFETY AUDIT
In our October 2010 Latrobe Crime Watch News we reported on the efforts of Morwell NHW/SCG‟s Anti-Graffiti Team lead by Gerard Traynor and Betty Glass. The team undertakes the ongoing task of removing graffiti as it appears across the Morwell Township when conducting regular Community Safety Audits (CSA‟s).
The presence of graffiti can impact negatively on a community and makes its residents feel less secure and safe. It not only makes public places less attractive but it can lead to more serious crimes being committed if it doesn‟t look like the community is looking after itself. Property damaged makes an area look less ascetically
pleasing and the costs involved in graffiti removal and prevention can be high for the local council, businesses and owners of private property. Removing graffiti strengthens communities and revitalises neighbourhoods. It is proven that if graffiti is removed soon after it appears, offenders get discouraged and stop reoffending.
Out of concern for the growing incidents of graffiti in Moe/Newborough and recognising its presence lowers the perception of a safe and secure neighbourhood, the town‟s NHW/SCG decided it was time to act. Moe/Newborough‟s group invited Gerard to speak at the town‟s NHW/SCG May meeting.
On Saturday 7th of May Gerard, Betty and Stan Wright (our photographer) from Morwell accompanied Jake and Joan Van der Koogh and Olive Teys from Moe/Newborough on their first CSA, showing group
members how to remove the graffiti and how they conduct their CSA. The Moe/ Recording graffiti Newborough team conducted their audit in Moore, George, Albert and Kirk Streets.
During the audit, members of Moe‟s public approached the team and when they realised the community service they were providing the public reported to the team incidents of hoon driving and an issue with the disabled car park behind the Moe RSL.
Gerard showed the Moe/Newborough group they need to be systematic when inspecting the town‟s public places. The walkabout needs to be organised with notes and photographs taken. CSA‟s are information gathering exercises so they have to be recorded properly so outside stakeholders, such as the police and the council can make sense of the information gathered.
With Morwell‟s working together with Moe/Newborough‟s, the groups were able to recognise that some of the „tags‟ (identifying marks) of the towns‟ graffiti vandals were the same in both towns. In other words, the offenders are travelling between towns to cause the damage. The groups are now working together to collate their data and the information is being passed on to Victoria Police to assist in the identification and prosecution of offenders.
Removing graffiti CSA‟s are designed to identify problem areas in a neighbourhood and involve attempting to find a solution
to the problem with the goal of reducing crime and improving and promoting a sense of public safety. CSA‟s identify features in the streets, parks, buildings and car parks which make you feel less safe or which may affect your safety.
CSA‟s can identify issues such as insufficient lighting, unsafe footpaths, road potholes, vegetation overgrowth which can be fire or traffic hazards, identifying untidy residential premises which are unsightly, a health hazard, and a worry for neighbours and, of course, graffiti. In other words, it identifies anything which you believe needs to be addressed in order to enhance public safety.
The results of CSA‟s are reductions in injury, anti-social behaviour, violence and crime in the areas which are audited. CSA‟s are very simple but empowering tools for a local community. Community members are the people who know their towns best. By taking ownership of your locality, sharing what you know about it, how you feel about it and by working together with other community members, a town‟s residents can make changes happen.
Community Safety Audits encourage the community to get involved and have a say, but you have to be prepared to work for the changes you want. They help to turn your neighbourhood from one where you or your neighbours feel unsafe or uncomfortable to one where you feel safe, secure and at ease. They make public places safer for everyone.
Gerard and Betty‟s work in Morwell recently lead to two offenders being charged with 60 offences of criminal damage. Their efforts were recognised with letters of appreciation from the Latrobe Police Service Area‟s Inspector Ron Gardner. Latrobe City supports NHW/SCG volunteers by supplying chemicals free of charge to our graffiti removing teams. Their work will help to keep both our crime and council rates down.
Moe/Newborough NHW/SCG is now looking for more volunteers to assist with the audits and removing graffiti. They would like to be able to do this every two weeks to make a difference, but to do so they need a workforce. If you have some free time and would like to assist making your community a better place in which to live, contact Leading Senior Constable Brett Godden on 5131 5000 at the Safer Communities Unit and he will put you in contact with Moe/Newborough NHW/SCG.
MORWELL MEETING and CRIME REPORT
PREVIOUS ISSUES - Freeway Closure - Update from Brett and general discussion. Brett will take all issues raised and suggestions for traffic diversions & street alterations to the Emergency Management Team and to the Strategic Advisory Group.
"Lock It, Remove It or Lose It" signs might be a project we could work on - Designs to be submitted.
Lighting and entrance issues with the new taxi rank outside Coles - Brett has forwarded information to Taxi Directorate.
Health and safety issues arising from an untidy household - Details to be passed to Latrobe City.
Speeding Cars in school areas during drop off/pick up times - Brett has passed the information to the Highway Patrol.
List of empty premises - Addresses passed to Gerard for follow up.
Tree roots causing damage by raising footpath surfaces - Passed to Water board.
CRIME REPORT - SEXUAL ASSAULT - One offender charged after an incident in Morwell.
ASSAULT - 15 for May (11 April) - Nine offenders charged with six coming to police notice as a result of family violence incidents. One victim received a threat via a text message from a mobile phone. Police remind the community that threats made via mobile phones, Facebook and twitter will be treated the same as if the threats were made face to face.
ARSON - 1 for May (3 April) - A bin and surround were destroyed by fire at the railway station.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 33 for May (25 April) - One offender charged with 12 offences. During the period from 13th - 21st May this offender damaged windows of residential premises by either smashing them or slashing tyres on vehicle parked at residences. Two other offenders were also charged.
BURGLARY - 15 for May (22 April) - One offender charged after a series of burglaries at Power Works. Most of the others were committed on residential address. Most involved forced entry via either a smashed window or jemmied door. Items stolen include lawn mowers, garden tools, iPods, cash and mobile phones.
THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 17 for May (7 April) - Four offenders charged with TFMV. Most occurred in residential driveways or outside the residence. The two occurring at business premises involved theft of number plates.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 4 for May (7 April) - One motorcycle was stolen Wells St towards the end of the month. Two of the vehicles stolen have since been recovered. One of the vehicles was sighted doing burnouts when the offenders crashed it and left the scene. When police attended it was ascertained that the vehicle had been stolen earlier.
THEFT - 30 for May (14 April) - Five offenders charged. Safety bollards and signs have been stolen from the closed section of the freeway. A number of the thefts were handbags or purses stolen from trolleys in shopping centres.
ISSUES RAISED JUNE - Tree roots lifting footpaths in Butters Street - Previous advice has been given to contact LCC.
Inappropriate use of motorised scooters by non-disabled people - This is an education issue and will be addressed by seminars.
Speed humps required in the Butters and Angus Streets area - LTB16 advised of the process to get speed humps in the street.
Pedestrian danger in Commercial road near I-Gain - Process in place and Strategic Traffic Advisory Group are dealing with it.
Problem of untidy premises - unsightly, a health hazard, and a worry for neighbours - Previous advice on contacting LCC. Be persistent. Freeway Closure Survey - Ellen and Dianne reported on Q & A they did in Commercial Road. Answers from the Emergency Management Team will be on the next special edition. General nuisance caused by mini bike riders – To Highway Patrol for attention.
CHURCHILL and DISTRICT MEETING and CRIME REPORT
MAY ISSUES - Youth behaviour in shopping centre - Brett provided advice and Churchill Harmony Group has been created to look at this issue.
ASSAULTS - 2 for May (5 April) - In both incidents offenders have been charged with unlawful assault or intentionally cause injury.
ARSON - 1 for May (2 April) - Early in the morning of 29th May offenders attended outside the flats in Walker Pde and set 12 green bins alight. All bins were destroyed.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 8 for May (14 April) – Four offenders charge, three of which related to throwing rocks at the Woolworths sign. Most offences occurred in residential areas with windows being smashed by various means.
BURGLARY - 3 for May (14 April) - One offender charged with a burglary in Barooga Cr. Squatters targeted a vacant house in Cutler Cr late in April.
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for May (2 April)
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 1 for May (2 April) - A vehicle stolen from a residential property has since been recovered.
THEFT - 2 for May (4 April) - One offender was charged with theft of petrol. In the other incident the victim left her bag whilst getting a drink. When she has returned her mobile phone and camera had been stolen from the bag.
ISSUES RAISED JUNE– Meeting not held at time of printing.
MOE MEETING and CRIME REPORT
PREVIOUS ISSUES - A person using a motorised mobility device thinking they have automatic right of way - This is an education issue. Sometime in the very near future there will be seminars of Motorised Mobility Devices. These will be advertised widely.
Baw Baw Hotel in state of disrepair - Olive received a letter from LCC re the old Baw Baw Hotel. Could council be approached to change the loading zone in Albert St to Market St? - Brett to follow up. A house on the corner of Watsons Rd and John St is burnt out - Brett to follow up with LCC. The STOP sign at the laneway between RSL and Town Hall seems to be in the wrong spot- It was explained that this is a shared zone (footpath/roadway) and that both vehicle drivers and pedestrians need to be cautious.
Community audit discussed – Gerard (from Morwell) liaised with group and a community audit was conducted (see article)
CRIME REPORT - ASSAULT - 12 for May (8 April) - In 11 of the incidents an offender has been charged. The offences range from threats to kill through to unlawful assault and assaults as a result of family violence. An unknown offender threw an object at a passing vehicle on the freeway causing damage to the vehicle. Police remind the community, especially the young, that this is a very dangerous practice that could actually result in someone being severely injured or killed.
ARSON- 1 for May (1 April) - The disused Baw Baw Hotel had some rooms set alight towards the end of the month. The investigation is in the early stages however it has been deemed suspicious.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 9 for May (12 April) - Three offenders charged. Most offences occurred on business premises with Jon Kerr Real Estate and Moe Narracan News being targeted and an implement used to gouge out windows at the businesses.
BURGLARY- 7 for May (8 April) - One offender charged. Most were committed on residential premises using forced entry. A generator was stolen from a work site in Henry St on 26th May. It would have taken two people to move the generator.
THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR- 5 for May (37 April) - Four occurred in residential streets or driveways with two sets of plates being stolen. One set was used on a vehicle which was later the offending vehicle in a petrol drive off.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 1 for May (3 April) - The only vehicle stolen which has been recovered and returned to the owner.
THEFT (OTHER) - 16 for May (5 April) - One offender charged. Six were petrol thefts from the various petrol stations around town with fuel siphoned from one vehicle in a residential driveway. Police are working with service stations to try and decrease the incidence of this style of theft.
ISSUES RAISED JUNE - NHW Sign in High St has not been erected - Brett to follow up with depot. Community audit - Joan Van Der Koogh reported on the audit (see main article.) Vehicles speeding in Monash Rd - Descriptions have been requested and information passed to Highway Patrol.
TRARALGON MEETING and CRIME REPORT
APRIL ISSUES - Freeway closure - Brett provided an update and advice re the Princes Freeway closure.
What is the age you can ride a bike on a footpath? - Someone aged 12 or under can ride a bicycle on a footpath. An adult can ride on a footpath is they are teaching someone to ride.
Vehicle doing burnouts during school holidays – details provided - Details have been forwarded to Highway patrol.
CRIME REPORT - ASSAULT - 16 for May (18 April.) – 11 offenders charged. Five of these incidents came to notice as a result of family violence incidents. Assaults were fairly evenly spread between residential premises and public areas. In many cases the victim and offender were known to each other.
ARSON - 3 for May (1 April.) Two were stolen vehicles which had been dumped and burnt out. The other was at the toilet block at Bert Thompson Reserve. A group of youths was observed in the block and then running away. A short time later a fire was noticed. CFA attended an extinguished the fire however there was damage to cubicles and some appliances.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 24 for May (28 April.)Five offenders charged with various property damage offences. Glenview Drive and Stuart Street were hit a number of times with damage to letterboxes in both streets. All damages were committed in residential streets and involved windows of vehicle or homes.
BURGLARY - 10 for May (15 April.) Corky‟s bottle shop was broken into twice with alcohol stolen on both occasions. Most residential burglaries were committed on sheds or garages, most of which were unlocked.
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 20 for May (14 April.) One offender charged. Nearly all occurred in residential driveways or on front lawns on unlocked vehicles with two having windows smashed. Four sets of plates were stolen.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 9 for May (6 April.) - Four offenders charged. Three of the vehicles been recovered however one was burnt out. Most were stolen from residential driveways or outside residential addresses.
THEFT - 15 for May (15 April.) Whilst police are following more suspects, four offenders have been charged. Three were charged after a series of thefts in different stores in the Plaza.
ISSUES RAISED JUNE - Motorcycle in Wirilda Cres causing issues - passed to Highway Patrol. Bicycles being ridden without lights/helmets - this is an education issue. Replacement of old/faded NHW signs - requested reports from each area on locations to be sent to Brett. NHW/SCG Booth at farmers market later in the year - to be followed up by areas and to be confirmed.
YALLOURN NORTH MEETING and CRIME REPORT
ISSUES - Information re a vehicle possibly changing registration plates - Passed to Moe Police and Latrobe Highway Patrol.
ASSAULT - Nil for May (Nil April)
ARSON - Nil for May (Nil April)
PROPERTY DAMAGE - Nil for May (1 April)
BURGLARY - Nil for May (Nil April)
THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - Nil for May (1 April)
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for May (1 April)
THEFT (OTHER) - 1 for May (3 April) - Gates were stolen from a residence in Boundary Rd between 5th and 8th May.
ISSUES RAISED JUNE - Hoon Driving - An update on hoon laws to be provided.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au
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