Briefly
A FERNTREE Gully couple face court and a car impound after three police pursuits in the valley, that ended with a fake car theft report.
Warburton police Leading Senior Constable Kevin Bishop said that on Saturday 28 May, a car was observed by police doing donuts on Mount Donna Buang.
When police approached, the car took off on the wrong side of the road into thick fog – police did not pursue the driver, who was then spotted in Healesville and Lilydale in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Both times, the car took off from police at high speed.
Leading Sen Const Bishop said the owner, a 20-year-old Ferntree Gully man then reported the car as stolen.
“However, he’s since been interviewed and is expected to be charged on summons for a range of serious offences, including dangerous driving while evading police, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and making a false report,” he said.
The man’s girlfriend, a 19-year-old Ferntree Gully woman, is believed to have been the passenger in the car during the pursuits and is expected to be charged with obstructing police.
Both will appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Leading Sen Const Bishop said that Warburton Police and Yarra Ranges Highway Patrol were conducting an ongoing operation at Mount Donna Buang to catch hoon drivers.
Lock up before you leave
YARRA Ranges detectives are urging residents to be wary of thieves over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend and to lock up their properties and valuables.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Melanie Woods said that residents needed to secure their houses if they planned on going away for the weekend.
She said holiday-goers should “engage with their neighbours to keep a lookout” for suspicious behaviour.
“And if people do see anything suspicious at all, make sure they do call triple-zero and we’ll get a unit out there as soon as we can,” Det Sgt Woods said.
Going postal
POLICE are on the lookout for a letterbox bomber, who is believed to have damaged two Australia Post mailboxes in the last week.
Belgrave police Sergeant Carolyn Sunderland said that between 29 May and 2 June, two red Australia Post mailboxes were damaged in Wandin North and Belgrave South.
“They were damaged by an unidentified explosive device, possibly placed inside the boxes,” Sgt Sunderland said.
The extent of the damage to the boxes is not known, and police are unsure of the bomber’s motives.
Sgt Sunderland said a green mailbox had been ripped out of the ground in the same period of time, but that police were investigating whether the incidents were linked.
Anyone with information about the damage is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Equipment stolen
POLICE are searching for thieves who stole a number of farming vehicles from a Wandin business last week, and are calling on the public for help.
Belgrave police Sergeant Carolyn Sunderland said that between 31 May and 3 June, unknown persons forced entry to a shed at a commercial property on Hunter Road, in Wandin.
They then made off with a John Deere branded ride-on mower, tractor and quad bikes.
The total value of the items has yet to be calculated.
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
