Latest News• Add My News • Search Old News Gippsland › Latest news › Latrobe Local NewsLatrobe Crime Watch News January 2012Coming Events, Gypsy Bitumen Con-Men are Back, New Year Message from Superintendent Tess Walsh, School is Back, Crime Reports for Traralgon, Morwell, Churchill, Moe/Newboruogh, Yallourn North. Latrobe Crime Watch NewsLatrobe Police Service AreaNeighbourhood Watch Creating Safer CommunitiesJanuary 2012IMPORTANT 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@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, Nurse on Call 1300 606 024, Poisons Information 13 11 26, VicRoads 131170 COMING EVENTS: OPEN INVITATION TO ALL LATROBE VALLEY RESIDENTSWed 25th Jan - RoadSafe Motorised Mobility Device Presentation – Wednesday 25th January 2011 – Churchill Town/CDCA Meeting - Churchill Community Hall - 7 pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 – Morwell Town Meeting – Morwell RSL – Monday 6th February 2012 – Moe/Newborough Town Meeting – Moe RSL – Tuesday 7th February 2012 – Traralgon Town Meeting - Traralgon Civic Offices, Wednesday 8th February 2012 - Yallourn North Town Meeting–Yallourn North Bowling Club–7.30 pm Thursday 16th February 2012 - Yinnar Town Meeting - Yinnar Hotel – 7.30 pm Wednesday 22nd February 2011 – Churchill Town/CDCA Meeting - Churchill Community Hall - 7 pm Wed 29th Feb - RoadSafe Motorised Mobility Device Presentation – Please note there are no meetings scheduled for January. Meetings resume in Feb 2012. HOT SPOTS – POLICE NEED THE PUBLIC’S HELPGYPSY BITUMEN CONMEN BACK IN GIPPSLANDPolice warn that travelling ‘gypsy’ door-to-door conmen have again returned to the Gippsland region. In the most recent incident a Drouin resident answered his door to a conman. He stated he was a bitumen contractor, had an excess of bitumen that he could sell the resident at a cheap price and offered to seal the driveway for $7200. Unfortunately, the resident, an elderly gentleman, fell for the conman’s persuasiveness, had his driveway sealed and handed over a cheque. The conman then attended the bank, which made contact with the resident who even though he was not happy with the job, gave permission to cash the cheque because the work had been completed. It was subsequently found the conman’s identity was fraudulent and the victim now has no avenue to seek civil redress for poor workmanship which cost $7200. A Moe South resident was also offered a similar deal but knowing if it sounds too good to be true that it probably isn’t, the resident thought the deal was a scam and didn’t proceed with it. This time the quote was one tenth of the price this resident had previously been quoted. The conman had an English accent and called himself ‘Mick’. Different groups of gypsies target locations in Gippsland every year. Unfortunately police have no jurisdiction in these matters because the work actually gets done. However, it is usually sub-standard and at times very shoddy and consumers have no way to seek redress from the alleged contractor. It becomes a civil matter that must be pursued through Consumer Affairs and court system. If you are approached you should:
MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT TESS WALSHHi Everyone and Happy New Year. I have a great feeling about 2012 and I am confident we will do some fun things together this year. From an Australasian NHW perspective we are off to a terrific start with the announcement late last year of $1.5 million funding to support NHW into the future. This is the largest grant ever given to a community based organisation and says a lot about where the government sees NHW in the future. One of the key issues was to establish a grants package for local areas to be able to access funds to support any fun project they had in mind. This will be rolled out during the year but for more information go to www.nhwa.com.au. I'd love a local project to be the first funded! Locally we have had the recent announcement of an additional 15 police for the Division which is terrific. We are getting a bit of feedback that the good, law abiding citizens of the area would like to see a bit more of us and the additional numbers should have a big impact on that. We will also formalise our Family Violence Unit in March which will be housed at Morwell with the ability to respond across the Division as required. We are all passionate about reducing the incidence of violence and this will assist us. Thank you for all the work you did last year, and congratulations to Gerard and Betty for their award winning graffiti project. Now let’s design another!! Take care Tess Footnote: Superintendent Walsh is not only in charge of our Division (Eastern Region Division 5) she is also the President of Neighbourhood Watch Australasia and is very supportive of our local program. BOOLARRA/YINNAR DISTRICT CRIME REPORTPROPERTY DAMAGE - 1 for December (Nil Nov) - Unknown offenders damaged the toilet block at the reserve in Bastin St Boolarra overnight on 4th December. BURGLARY - 1 for December (2 Nov) - One offender charged with burglary. THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for December (5 Nov) THEFT - Nil for December (3 Nov) CHURCHILL and DISTRICT MEETING and CRIME REPORTPREVIOUS ISSUES - Community Group Expo – CRIME REPORT ASSAULTS 3 for December (8 Nov) - Two offenders charged whilst police are following up a suspect in relation to another incident. ARSON - 2 for December (Nil Nov) - One offender charged with criminal damage by fire whilst police are investigating a fire which occurred in the rear of a vehicle parked in a residential street. PROPERTY DAMAGE - 6 for December (3 Nov) - One offender charged and police are following up a suspect in relation to another incident. All damages were committed in residential areas with vehicle windows being smashed the most common damage BURGLARY - 4 for December (2 Nov) - Two of the burglaries were committed on residential premises with computers stolen. THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 5 for December (1 Nov) - All except one were committed in residential areas. Fuel was syphoned from a vehicle parked in the rear yard of a THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 1 for December (Nil Nov) - The only vehicle stolen has been recovered. MORWELL MEETING and CRIME REPORTPREVIOUS ISSUES - From LTB16 – Safety problems with scooters – Many disabled people continue to use scooters inappropriately ie not using footpaths – This is an education issue which in part is being addressed by the monthly RoadSafe Motorised Mobility Device Presentations at the CRIME REPORT SEXUAL OFFENCES - One offender charged with rape. ASSAULT - 27 for December (24 Nov) - 25 offenders charged with some facing multiple charges. 18 came to notice as a result of family violence incidents. Police have no leads on the offenders for two assaults and are making follow-up enquiries. ARSON - 2 for December (3 Nov) - One offender charged with criminal damage by arson after a shed fire whilst a motorised mobility device was set alight in the toilet block in Commercial Rd. PROPERTY DAMAGE - 47 for December (30 Nov) - 16 offenders charged. Overnight on the 14th December the Commonwealth Bank and Roylaines had windows smashed with the bank again targeted on 20th December with graffiti at the same time as the Lunch Box and another business. BURGLARY - 17 for December (22 Nov) - One offender charged with five counts of burglary and four counts of theft after a number of shops in the CBD were broken into. Another offender charged with burglary on an address on THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 14 for December (14 Nov) - One offender charged. Nearly all thefts were committed in residential areas with three overnight on 15th December in Grandview Gr and THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 6 for December (8 Nov) - One offender charged. One yet to be recovered and one was burnt out. THEFT - 18 for December (25 Nov) - One offender charged. Most thefts were committed in residential areas with two motorcycle helmets being stolen from car ports. MOE/NEWBOROUGH MEETING and CRIME REPORTPREVIOUS ISSUES – No December meeting. CRIME REPORT - ASSAULT - 23 for December (15 Nov) - 23 offenders charged. Police are also following up a suspect in relation to someone making threats to kill. Twelve of the incidents involved family violence. ARSON - 3 for December (2 Nov) - All three were on wheelie or industrial bins. The fire in the industrial bin in PROPERTY DAMAGE - 28 for December (20 Nov) - 17 offenders charged. Most damages were on either business or residential windows and vehicle windows and windscreens. BURGLARY - 13 for December (7 Nov) - Most of the burglaries were committed on residential premises with cash, golf clubs and a camera stolen. A TV was stolen from THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 4 for December (5 Nov) - Two occurred in residential driveways with unlocked vehicles entered with sunglasses and CD’s stolen. A rear canopy window was smashed on a work vehicle in a yard and a fuel can was stolen. THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 2 for December (2 Nov) - Police are following up a suspect in relation to one incident. The other vehicle stolen has been recovered. THEFT (OTHER) - 8 for December (16 Nov) - There were two petrol drive offs from petrol stations in Moe and these are being followed up by police. A credit card was used by a male and female offender to withdraw money from the victims account. Police remind the community not to locate their ATM card and the PIN in the same place. TRARALGON MEETING and CRIME REPORTPREVIOUS ISSUES – No December meeting. CRIME REPORT - SEXUAL OFFENCES - Two offenders charged with indecent assault. ROBBERY - 1 for December (1 Nov) - One offender charged with robbery as a result of a family violence incident. ASSAULT - 40 for December (28 Nov) - 38 offenders charged. Eight incidents as a result of family violence incidents. Police are also following up suspects in four other incidents. A large number involved alcohol. ARSON - 1 for December (Nil Nov) - Three fires were deliberately lit near PROPERTY DAMAGE - 47 for December (31 Nov) - 14 offenders charged. A large number were committed on residential premises. The most common damages on homes/businesses/vehicles were to windows with no apparent attempt at theft. BURGLARY - 22 for December (30 Nov) - Eight offenders charged. The majority of burglaries were committed in residential areas with cash and computers the main items stolen. Most entry was gained via windows left unlocked or forced in some manner. THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 15 for Dec (24 Nov) - Three offenders charged. All bar one of the thefts were committed at residential premises with two in THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 6 for December (5 Nov) - Four offenders charged. One vehicle is yet to be recovered. One victim had left the vehicle in the driveway unlocked with the keys in the ignition. This sort of behaviour makes it ridiculously easy for the opportunistic thief. THEFT - 21 for December (21 Nov) -Four offenders charged. Mobile phones were the most common items stolen after being left behind and found missing from shops, nightclubs or bars when the victim returned to a table or bench after leaving for a short time. Police advise to keep all personal items with you at all times. YALLOURN NORTH MEETING and CRIME REPORTPREVIOUS ISSUES – No December meeting. ASSAULT - Nil for December (1 Nov) PROPERTY DAMAGE - 2 for December (1 Nov) - Both were committed in residential areas. A window in a residence was damaged in BURGLARY - 2 for December (1 Nov) - A dishwasher was stolen from a residence in THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR Nil for December (1 Nov) SCHOOL’S BACKAs we approach the end of January it is timely to remind the community that the new school year will shortly commence and our younger citizens will again be hitting our footpaths in large numbers, on foot, scooters and bicycles. Our children will also be alighting from vehicles, both cars and buses, and numbers will be high at train stations and at bus stops. As adult motorists we must be aware that children can possess little or no road sense. They are unpredictable, can be difficult to see and act on impulse. Once they make up their minds where they want to be, they can be quick to act and run across the road. Please take care and slow down when driving past schools, paying particular attention to buses setting down children. This is of particular importance on our rural roads where buses stop near children’s homes. Be aware that children may unexpectedly run out from behind buses when they do not have a clear view of oncoming vehicles. Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au
Related Articles
|
|
 | Baw Baw |  | Bass Coast |  | Cardinia |  | East Gippsland |  | Latrobe City |  | South Gippsland |  | Wellington |
|
© 2001-2025 gippsland.com
Print this page |
Subscribe to Newsletter |
Feedback / Inquiries |
Login |
Care has been taken in compiling the component parts of this website. However, Gippsland.com does not warrant or represent that the website is free from errors or omissions, that the qualifications claimed by an advertiser are valid or that the published details of any advertiser are as stated on the website. Please review the full statement of our Terms and Conditions of Service and disclaimer.