Horse theft charges laid
A LOCAL farrier has been charged in relation to a number of horse thefts in the Coldstream and Gruyere area. The 36-year-old Kilsyth man faces a number of counts of burglary and theft. Yarra Range CIU Detective Sergeant Mark Smithwick said police have been able to recover most of the property as the man has been very co-operative with police. He was charged and bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Number plates lifted
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after number plates were stolen from a car in Healesville over the weekend.
Number plates were taken from the car in Albert Road, Healesville, overnight on Sunday 21 September.
Anyone with information on the stolen plates can contact Healesville Police on 5962 4422 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Residents can contact their local police station to organise tamper-proof screws for their number plates, which cannot be removed.
Children damage tractors
FIVE children have been cautioned by police after causing over $800 in damage to tractors at the Yarra Valley railway earlier this month.
At 5pm on 13 September, the five children, aged from 10-12, threw rocks at tractors at the Healesville railway station, smashing a number of windows.
Healesville Police Sergeant, Stewart Thomson, said the children caused $864 in damage to the vehicles.
He said the children had been cautioned, and were dealing with the railway in regards to damage restitution.
“It’s disappointing, the fact that the railway is led by volunteers and donations, and with an $864 loss coming into a time when they’re trying to prepare for the Heritage Festival and getting the railway up and running is a real blow, and it’s unnecessary,” Sgt Thomson said.
“People have to understand that there are consequences for actions.”
Broken down car set alight
HEALESVILLE police are looking for witnesses, after a broken down car was set on fire on Myers Creek Road.
Healesville Police Sergeant, Stewart Thomson, said the car had been broken down on the side of the road for a number of weeks, before it was set alight overnight on 6 September.
The car was destroyed.
Sgt Thomson said it was obvious that lighting a car on fire in the bush was not just illegal, but a severe fire risk.
“If we have people doing these sorts of things for entertainment, they need to be spoken to,” he said.
Anyone with information can contact Healesville police on 5962 4422 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Vigilance around schools
RESIDENTS are being asked to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour around schools and parks, as the school holidays begin.
Healesville Police Sergeant, Stewart Thomson, urged residents to be aware of people behaving suspiciously around school buildings or parks, particularly late at night.
“People need to be aware that there’s been a little bit of graffiti, and to be vigilant,” Sgt Thomson said.
He asked residents to call triple-zero immediately if they see suspicious behaviour, such as groups of teenagers with backpacks at night.
“We’ll make sure everything’s on the straight-and-narrow,” Sgt Thomson said.
