Man arrested in stolen vehicle in Stratford
POLICE arrested a man in an allegedly stolen vehicle in Stratford on Tuesday night (April 23).
The vehicle was allegedly stolen from McMillan Street, Bairnsdale about 11pm.
The owner of the vehicle was able to track its location, alerting police that the vehicle was travelling on Princes Highway about 11.30pm.
The vehicle allegedly reached speeds of up to 145 km/hour before police successfully deployed stop sticks, deflating three of the vehicles tyres.
It is alleged the driver continued driving for around one kilometre with the deflated tyres, before pulling over and swiftly being arrested by officers.
The driver and sole occupant, a 40-year-old Traralgon man, is assisting police with their enquiries.
Anyone with information, dashcam vision or anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Appeal for Newry hit and run witnesses
A REPORT has been made to police in regards to a possible hit and run involving two vehicles.
The incident occurred on April 13 at 6.30pm on Main Street, Newry, near the Farmer’s Arms Hotel.
If you have any information in regards to the incident, contact Sale Police on 5142 2200 or Crime Stoppers.
Impound in Heyfield
HEYFIELD Police were patrolling Hopkins Rd, Fulham on April 7, when they observed a silver Hyundi IX35 sedan turned left on Hopkins Rd, Fulham.
Heyfield Police says they intercepted the vehicle and discovered the driver was a 30-year-old women from Moe who had a suspended driver’s licence. The vehicle was impounded for a period of 30 days at a cost of $1193 and the driver will be summonsed to appear at the Sale Magistrates Court at a late date.
Truck impounded in Maffra
AT 8pm on Sunday, April 7, Maffra Police say they intercepted a White Kenworth Prime Mover in Blyth Street, Maffra.
A Preliminary Breath Test was conducted on the 55-year-old male driver from Maffra, which allegedly returned a positive result. An Evidentiary Breath Test was then conducted which also returned a positive result.
According to police, further checks on the male and the truck revealed his Drivers Licence was Disqualified, the Registration of the prime mover was cancelled and the male was on bail with conditions that he not drive a motor vehicle.
The male was charged with the relevant offences and remanded into custody.
The Kenworth Prime Mover was also impounded for a period of 30 days at a cost of $995.
Have you seen Peter?
THE 52-year-old was last seen on Sheehan Road, Torwood on April 5.
It is believed Peter may be travelling in a grey Mazda 3 hatch bearing registration SXY 226, and may have traveled to the Rutherglen, Wangaratta, Giffard or Beechworth areas.
Police and family are concerned for his welfare due to medical conditions, and his absence is “out of character” for him.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Warragul Police Station on (03) 5622 7111.
Lost item
A TOOL box was located on the Princes Highway in Sale and handed into the Sale Police station.
If you have lost a tool box , contact Sergeant Binotto at the Sale Police on 5142 2200.
A description of the tool box and contents will be required as proof of ownership.
Orbost tobacco store arson
DETECTIVES from Taskforce Lunar charged two men, both believed to be patched members of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) on April 17, following an arson attack at a tobacco store earlier this month.
With assistance from the Echo Taskforce, two warrants were executed at residential addresses in Airport West and Reservoir on the morning of April 17.
A 31-year-old man was charged with criminal damage by fire (arson) and fail to provide pin code.
A 42-year-old man was charged with criminal damage by fire (arson) and theft in relation to a separate investigation.
The charges follow an incident where emergency services were called to reports of a fire at a tobacco store on Nicholson Street in Orbost about 4.15am on Friday, April 5.
Two men are captured on CCTV running from across the road and into the arcade, before throwing an item through a window at the front of the store. The item causes the premises to ignite, and the two men then flee the scene in a silver Holden Commodore. Police say nobody was inside at the time but the store sustained significant damage during the incident.
Anyone with information on any organised criminal activity linked to illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police tackling domestic violence
VICTORIA Police is warning the state’s most dangerous family violence perpetrators there’s nowhere to hide – as a crackdown leads to a record number of offenders being arrested and brought before the courts each day.
Frontline police and specialised teams – including Family Violence Investigation Units and the Family Violence Command Taskforce – are proactively targeting and apprehending offenders for family violence crimes to ensure the safety of victim-survivors.
Crime Statistics Agency figures show 29,233 family violence offenders were either arrested or summonsed to court last year. It equates to an average of 80 arrests or summons to court each day.
The figures are up slightly on the prior year when an average 79 arrests or summons were made each day. That’s one person arrested or brought before the courts for family violence offending every 18 minutes.
The vast majority of offenders were arrested for serious family violence crimes, as well as actively avoiding police detection, outstanding warrants or unserved family violence intervention orders (IVO), stalking and making threats.
Family Violence Command Assistant Commissioner, Lauren Callaway said these figures highlight Victoria Police’s continual efforts in tracking down family violence offenders, some of the worst in the state.
“Family violence is completely unacceptable and there is never an excuse or justification for the crime,” she said.
“We need family violence perpetrators to stop and really think of the damage they are doing to their partners and children. Some go to great lengths to avoid apprehension – including blackmailing victim-survivors or using friends to keep them in hiding – but they’re always in the sights of police.
“Our message to family violence perpetrators is clear: closed doors will not protect you from being tracked down and held to account.”
A number of arrests in the past year have been supported by Victoria Police’s specialised units, including the Public Order Response Team, VIPER Taskforce and Intelligence and Covert Support Command Proactive Targeting Teams.
Victoria Police is committed to responding to all forms of family violence, supporting victims and holding perpetrators to account.
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s behaviour support services are available.
No to Violence runs a Men’s Referral Service which helps men who use violence to change their behaviour, and can be phoned on 1300 766 491.
If you or someone close to you discloses they are a victim of family violence, please believe them and encourage them to contact police or a support service.
Support is available 24 hours a day through Safe Steps by calling 1800 015 188 or emailing safesteps@safesteps.org.au.
In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.
