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Latrobe Crime Watch News

Moe, Yallourn North, Morwell, Churchill, Traralgon, Crime Watch, Police Chief Commissioner's Visit to Gippsland.

By Malcolm Lawrence - 4th March 2011 - Back to News

Latrobe Crime Watch News

Latrobe Police Service Area

Neighbourhood Watch Creating Safer Communities

FEBRUARY 2011

If you know anything which might help police solve or prevent a crime,

Phone Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000

NURSE-ON-CALL 1300 60 60 24

Call SES 132 500

Remember! always report any suspicious incidents to the Police by dialling 000 (triple zero)

COMING EVENTS: OPEN INVITATION TO ALL LATROBE VALLEY RESIDENTS

Tuesday 1st March 2011 - Traralgon Town Meeting - Civic Offices, Kay Street - 7.15 pm

Wednesday 2nd March 2011 - Morwell Town Meeting-Milne Bay Room, Morwell RSL, Elgin St – 7 pm

Monday 7th March 2011 - Moe/Newborough Town Meeting - Moe RSL Albert Street, Moe – 7 pm

Wednesday 9th March 2011 - Yallourn North Town Meeting – Yallourn North Bowling Club – 7.30 pm

Thursday 17th March 2011 - Yinnar Town Meeting - Yinnar Hotel – 7.30 pm

Wednesday 23rd March 2011 – Churchill Town Meeting/CDCA Meeting, Churchill Town Hall - 7 pm

Wednesday 15th June 2011 - NHW Police Showband & Pipe Band Concert – Kernot Hall Morwell

CHIEF COMMISSIONER VISITS GIPPSLAND

On Thursday 27th January the Chief Commissioner of Police, Simon Overland, visited Gippsland to report to the community on the progress of the The Way Ahead 2008-2013, Victoria Police‟s Strategic Plan.

Nearly 100 senior members of the Gippsland community, including police, mayors and CEO‟s from Gippsland‟s six local government areas, representatives from government departments and community support organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch, emergency services and critical infrastructure businesses attended the invitation only event held at the Morwell RSL.

At the half-way point of the strategic plan, the Chief is using a series of The Way Ahead „Refresh‟ 2010 Community Meetings to report back to Victorians on the progress and implementation of the plan which aims to create a safer Victoria by concentrating on crime, public safety and road safety.

The strategic direction sees police connecting the community both within local areas and across wider communities. Victoria Police are often the first point of contact for people in need of help and have the ability to connect them with others who can provide ongoing assistance.

Victoria Police sees its members as skilled, capable, confident and professional community leaders who can influence change by working effectively within what is an adaptive and responsive organisation. By achieving its priorities, Victoria Police will connect with the community to deliver a safer Victoria.

The purpose of the meetings is to inform the public on Victoria Police‟s achievement thus far; inform and explain Victoria Police‟s new service delivery strategy; and to obtain feedback from the community that will influence future policing activities.

After delivering his address Mr Overland took questions and then mingled with Gippsland‟s respected community members over a light lunch. For a report on the meeting as it effects Latrobe.

CHIEF COMMISSIONER VISITS GIPPSLAND

In his report to the Gippsland Community on the progress of the The Way Ahead 2008-2013, Victoria Police‟s Strategic Plan, Chief Commissioner Simon Overland informed the community Victoria Police‟s focus in priority order is

1. Improved public safety, particularly on public transport;

2. Fighting serious crime and organised crime;

3. Reducing and preventing crime against the person;

4. Policing our roads;

5. Emergency management; and 6. Reducing and preventing property crime.

When informed many Latrobe Valley residents, particularly the elderly, avoid catching the 2.20 pm train from Melbourne because of the behaviour of high school students boarding the train at Trafalgar, he replied that 100 of the new 1700 police will be sent to the Transit Police. This will result in increased visibility on public transport aimed at this type of public disorder problem.

Cheryl Wragg from Moe and District Residence Association suggested the focus came from a city centric perspective as she viewed her areas main concerns were mental health, family violence and safety, public drunkenness and police numbers. Mr Overland conceded the plan was city centric but Victoria Police was trying to develop a state-wide focus.

When quizzed about police numbers for the town of Moe, Mr Overland said with the consolidation of country communications to Ballarat, the numbers used to man Moe Communications will go directly to the police strength at Moe, as well there would be additional resources over the next four years.

When asked what he could do to combat Moe‟s hoon driving problem, Mr Overland said the biggest driver of fear in the community has been proven to be graffiti and hoon driving. He said police will be actively gathering intelligence and then targeting identified hoon drivers to remove them from our streets. He emphasised the public reporting of hoon driving to police will be the major driver of this strategy.

Mr Overland was asked to comment on the likelihood of Churchill Police Station becoming a 24 hour station as this was a key election platform for the Valley at the last state election. He categorically stated this was "not likely" and that it is his decision where police resources go, not the governments.

Victoria police have also implemented Operation Firesetter, which is a bushfire arson prevention strategy which will see dedicated patrols in high risk areas targeting high risk suspects.

MORWELL MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES - Nil

CRIME REPORT

SEX OFFENCES - One offender charged with wilful and obscene exposure after an incident in Haywood Street.

ROBBERY - 1 for January (Nil Dec) - One offender charged with robbery after making threats to the pharmacist at a local chemist.

ASSAULT - 16 for January (21 Dec) - Nine offenders charged with various assault. Police are also waiting to interview three other offenders for assaults. A male was stabbed at the rear of Midvalley Shopping Centre on the night of the 30th January.

ARSON - 9 for January (5 Dec) -Wheelie bins were targeted this month including setting some alight in Chestnut Avenue, The Avenue and Hunt Street. The Senior Citizens Hall in Vary Street was also the targeted with a fire lit.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 51 for January (41 Dec) - Six offenders charged with various criminal damage offences. 18 vehicles across Morwell had windows smashed by either rocks or small stones. Most vehicles were parked in the streets and three vehicles were "keyed" on the night of the 22nd in the Mid Valley car park. There were six damages and burglaries committed in the Princes Drive/Church Street area on the night of the 1st January.

BURGLARY - 27 for January (19 Dec) - Three offenders were charged after a burglary in Beattie Cres. A series of burglaries in Church Street area resulted in a number of damages as well as property being stolen. Storage units in Garden Street were entered sometime between the 1st and 6th January.

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 17 for January (23 Dec) - A number of the vehicles entered were left unlocked however it is pleasing to note that the number is not as great as has been in past months. Police remind the community not to leave handbags/wallets and large amounts of cash in vehicles.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 8 for January (9 Dec) - Ten offenders charged with TOMV. Three offenders were charged after stealing an unlocked vehicle that had the keys in the ignition from a private driveway. The public needs to take responsibility and secure their vehicles, even when parked on your own property.

THEFT - 16 for January (15 Dec) - Three trailers were stolen with one used to remove property that was stolen from storage units in Garden St. One offender was charged with theft of fuel from a local service station whilst there were three other offences of a similar nature committed.

ISSUES RAISED – No January meeting. Nil from February Meeting

CHURCHILL and DISTRICT MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES - Nil

CRIME REPORT

ASSAULTS - 8 for Jan (6 Dec) - Five offenders charged with various assault offences. One offender was charged after using a vehicle in attempting to run down victims. A brawl at Freedom Fuels also resulted in an injury to a male with police continuing to make inquiries.

ARSON - Nil for Jan (1 December)

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 12 for Jan (4 Dec) - Most of the damages were committed on vehicles and in three incidents rocks were thrown on vehicles at New Churchill Motors. Three offenders were charged with damages to premises.

BURGLARY - 7 for Jan (1 Dec) - The Churchill Football Club was burgled with offenders smashing a window with a rock and entering the canteen area stealing drinks and alcohol. The Churchill Primary was also entered via a construction site and a laptop was stolen.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 5 for Jan (13 Dec) - Two of the vehicles that were entered were left unlocked. A GPS and cash were stolen from a vehicle in White Parade. Another vehicle parked in a yard in Switchback Road was entered and had a stereo stolen.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 2 for Jan (3 Dec) - A motor bike which had the rear wheel clamped was stolen from a back yard in Churinga Drive. A mountain pushbike was stolen at the same time. A tractor was stolen from the Latrobe City yard in Churchill.

THEFT - 1 for Jan (2 Dec) - At sixteenth birthday party in Blackwood Crescent unknown offenders have entered a room where a large number of bags were left and has stolen items from the bags.

ISSUES RAISED – No January Meeting

MOE MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES – Nil

CRIME REPORT

ROBBERY - 1 for Jan (1 Dec) - The victim was walking along Staff Street when approached by a male and threatened. The suspect is being sought.

ASSAULT - 23 for Jan (30 Dec) - Assaults dropped this month with 18 offenders charged. Nine came to police notice after family violence issues. Most assaults are still occurring at residential addresses with victim and offender known to each other.

ARSON - 3 for Jan (Nil Dec) - A house fire in Old Sale Road has been deemed suspicious after explosions and a fire. Another residence in Torres Street was targeted twice during the period 21st to 23rd January. The offender has lit cardboard in a window on one occasion and has set a curtain alight on the second. A suspect has been nominated and police are following up.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 18 for Jan (22 Dec) - Three damages were committed in the Cross Street/Murray Road area in Newborough. Most damages were windows being smashed on either vehicles or residential premises. Three offenders have been charged and four offences came to notice as a result of family violence incidents.

BURGLARY - 10 for Jan (14 Dec) - Two offenders were charged with burglaries in Della Torre Rd and Narracan Drive. Motor bikes were stolen from storage units which had been entered in late December. Suspects are being sought.

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 17 for Jan (9 Dec) - Five offenders were charged with TFMV. Two of these offences were committed on vehicles that were left unlocked with property visible. Two sets of hubcaps were stolen from vehicles in the Torres Street/Cross Street Newborough area.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 12 for Jan (4 Dec) - Nearly all vehicles stolen have been recovered and returned. Two offenders were charged over a theft in Newark Ave, whilst four others have been charged for thefts committed on the 5th January at Moore Street. Moe Motorcycles had a vehicle ram a door and three motorcycles stolen with two offenders charged.

THEFT (OTHER) - 16 for Jan (15 Dec) - Three offenders charged with theft of fuel from Gunns Gully Service Station. The vehicle in which the fuel was used was a stolen vehicle since recovered and returned. Three other offenders have been charged with theft. Garden ornaments and garden lights were amongst the items stolen.

ISSUES RAISED – No January meeting.

YALLOURN NORTH MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES - nil

CRIME REPORT

ASSAULT - Nil for January (2 Dec)

PROPERTY DAMAGE - Nil for January (4 Dec)

BURGLARY - Nil for January (4 Dec)

THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 1 for January (1 Dec) - Offenders have stolen both number plates off a vehicle parked at the rear of an address in North Road.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for January (Nil Dec)

THEFT (OTHER) - 1 for January (1 Dec) - Offenders entered a yard at the Yallourn Power station and stolen an amount of copper wire. Police ask the community to report breaches of the fence around the power station when they see them.

ISSUES RAISED – No January Meeting

CRIME PREVENTION TIPS

Make sure fences are properly maintained. They should provide good visibility of the house to the casual observer. Driveway and access gates should be secured. Trellis extensions do provide extra privacy, however a high fence is also good for the burglar to hide ehind. Fences should be in a safe condition.

TRARALGON MEETING and CRIME REPORT

PREVIOUS ISSUES – Nil

CRIME REPORT - ASSAULT - 18 for Jan (15 Dec) - Fourteen offenders charged with assault offences during the month. One offender was charged with two counts of assault police and resist arrest. Another was charged with a serious assault after a young man was hospitalised with life threatening injuries.

ARSON - 1 for January (2 Dec) - There was a minor fire at the Latrobe Regional Hospital. No persons were injured and minimal damage was done to a ward.

PROPERTY DAMAGE - 24 for January (32 Dec) - Four of the offences took place in the CBD with two occurring at the intersection of Seymour and Franklin streets with another two occurring nearby in Church Street and Service Street. Ten offenders were charged with various property damage offences. A large number of the damages involved rocks being thrown through windows without any apparent reason for the damage occurring.

BURGLARY - 11 for January (24 Dec) - Four of this month‟s burglaries occurred in the area of Breed Street near Seymour Street. A number involved offenders entering vacant premises to cause damage to the residence. A large number of entries were gained via unlocked gates or gates that were able to be manipulated. One offender has been charged.

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 10 for January (33 Dec) - A huge drop in the number of TFMV, however the majority of vehicles that were entered were unlocked or had windows down. Five offenders were charged. Property stolen includes iPods, chargers and play stations with cash being the most often stolen item.

THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 6 for January (10 Dec) - Two quad bikes were stolen from the Traralgon Council Depot. The vehicles had all the equipment and ignitions removed from them so the offenders who cut the wire fence would have had to wheel the vehicles away from the scene.

THEFT - 10 for January (10 Dec) - Four offenders charged with offences occurring at both business and residential properties. Two garden ornaments were stolen from a residence in Connaught Way. The items that were stolen were very heavy and it would have required the offenders to have transported them in a car or trailer.

ISSUES RAISED – No January Meeting.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au