LILYDALE police have put out a public call for assistance after a series of thefts at the BP Service Station in Launching Place with stolen or fake rego plates.
In a series of posts on the Eyewatch – Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page posted over the weekend, Lilydale police officers have asked for members of the public to help track down the culprits to three separate incidents at the service station.
The first, at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21 July, involved a man putting petrol in his car, which was bearing stolen registration plates.
“Assistance of the identity of this male is requested in relation to the investigation,” the post read.
On Thursday 23 July at 10.30am, a man pumped petrol to his car, which was bearing false registration plates, and drove away without paying.
On Saturday 25 July at 8am, another man tried to pay for petrol with a counterfeit $50 note and drove away in a vehicle with registration plates that do not match his vehicle.
Anyone with information on any of the incidents are asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Search off the beaten track
THE State Emergency Service is warning bushwalkers not to stray off the beaten path after two people were lost in freezing conditions on Mount Donna Buang.
Upper Yarra SES volunteers were called out to the mountain at 6.30pm after the bushwalkers called triple zero when they realised they had lost their bearings.
The two people had reportedly left the rainforest gallery about 3pm and were walking to the summit, about a four-kilometre hike.
They had a mobile phone with them, but the battery went flat.
“Phone batteries drain very quickly in the cold,” said SES volunteer Russel Wulf.
“It’s best to keep the phone against the body.”
SES teams headed into the bush to find the lost walkers and were in the bush for about an hour before the police rescue helicopter was called in to assist.
The helicopter, equipped with an infrared sensor to locate the walkers, scouted for about 20 minutes before the two people were spotted.
The bushwalkers had made the mistake of following their GPS unit’s direction and leaving the main bush track and following a smaller path that led into thick bushland.
The bushwalkers were soon found by SES in the freezing cold and dark bushland but without any injuries.
“Their mistake was walking off the track,” he said.
“We urge anyone bushwalking to stay on the well-worn track, look for other people’s footprints and go where other people go because those paths must lead back to safety.”
Police hunt for tools thieves
POLICE are hunting thieves who broke into the old Sanitarium Factory in Warburton and stole tools from a worksite earlier this month.
Between 4am on Sunday 9 August and 9am the following day, unknown persons broke into the former Sanitarium Factory on Warburton Highway.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Mark Smithwick said that tools were stolen from a site office at the factory, and that the site was also graffitied at the time.
Anyone who may have seen suspicious activity at the site is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Playground damaged: ‘idiot’ sought
POLICE are hunting for a white four-wheel-drive that was seen tearing up grass around a Woori Yallock playground over the weekend.
In a post on the Eyewatch – Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page titled Can You Help Find This Idiot? police posted a photo of damage around a playground allegedly caused by the four-wheel-drive on Saturday 15 August.
The playground was located on Middleton Drive, and anyone who may have seen the vehicle is asked to call Lilydale police on 9739 2402 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Tack room ransacked
HORSE gear was stolen from a Launching Place property earlier this month, and police are calling for help to track down the suspect.
Between 9am on 5 August and 1pm on 7 August, professional horse gear valued at almost $10,000 was stolen from a tack room at a Parkinsons Road property in Launching Place.
Police believe the room was not locked at the time of the incident.
Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Club break-in bid fails
WITNESSES are being urged to come forward after a break-in attempt at the Yarra Glen Bowls Club earlier this month.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Mark Smithwick said that between 4pm on Sunday 9 August and 10am the following morning, unknown persons cut padlocks from storage sheds at the bowls club property on Anzac Avenue, Yarra Glen.
However, nothing was stolen in the incident, and anyone who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour at the time is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Remanded over arson attempt
A COLDSTREAM man has been remanded in custody after an arson attempt at Crown Casino earlier this month.
The 41-year-old man was arrested in regards to an arson attempt at the Melbourne casino on Wednesday 5 August.
He has been remanded in custody, and is expected to face court at a later date.
Armed robbery witnesses wanted
POLICE are appealing for information after an armed robbery at a service station in Chirnside Park earlier this month.
About 1.45am on Monday 10 August, two men entered the BP Service Station on Maroondah Highway in Chirnside Park, armed with a metal instrument.
The two men allegedly threatened a staff member and stole cash and cigarettes.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
