INTERSTATE fugitives, Gino and Mark Stocco, are believed to have made a brief trip into the Yarra Valley last week while on the run from police.
Victoria Police announced on Thursday 22 October, that the pair – who have been on the run for eight years – were spotted by police at 1am at a police checkpoint on the Melba Highway in Castella.
“The police unit began following the vehicle, which sped off at a fast rate of speed towards Glenburn,“ a police spokesperson said.
“A decision was made not to engage with the occupants of the vehicle and the sighting was radioed through to other units in the area.”
Police from around the state gathered around Glenburn and Yea over the week, as police hunted the fugitives, who allegedly shot at police near Wagga Wagga on Friday 16 October.
Though police set up checkpoints around a search area that included Yarra Glen, Marysville and Kinglake, the fugitives are believed to be in the north east area of Victoria or near the border to New South Wales.
On Wednesday, 28 October, the pair were arrested in Dunedoo, New South Wales.
Spectacle Site break-in
POSSIBLY-bespectacled burglars are being sought by police, after a break-in at Healesville’s Spectacle Site optometrist earlier this month.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Mark Smithwick said between noon on Saturday 17 October and 8am on Monday 19 October, a lever was used to force entry to the Maroondah Highway business’s front door.
The would-be burglars then went to the reception area of the store, ransacking cupboards and a cash-drawer, though police were not able to provide details of what was taken in the burglary.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Old prescriptions stolen
POLICE are asking witnesses to come forward after a break-in at the Healesville Pharmacy last week.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Mark Smithwick said between 6pm on Wednesday 21 October and 9am the following day, unknown persons broke into a shed at the Maroondah Highway business.
Det Sgt Smithwick said a box containing old prescriptions was believed to be stolen in the incident.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Block and tackle stolen
A BLOCK and tackle has been stolen from a Warburton property earlier this month, and police are asking for anyone with information to come forward.
Between Saturday 17 October and Monday 19 October, a block and tackle was stolen from a Melbourne Water property on Woods Point Road in Warburton.
The machinery is used to lift engines out of cars.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
