Flemington Local Area Command

Australia Post employee charged with mail theft – Strathfield

NSW Police have charged a postal worker with stealing mail in Sydney’s west following a joint operation with Australia Post’s Corporate Security Group over the last few months.

Between 20 August and 9 September 2009 Australia Post investigators received information from a corporate customer that not all their mail was being delivered from a mail post centre.

Investigators conducted inquiries and identified a 31-year-old male employee allegedly stealing before they notified police.

It is alleged the man failed to deliver two gift cards on 28 September 2009. It is further alleged the man used the gift cards at a department store on 8 November.

Following inquiries by police from Flemington Local Area Command, officers arrested a 31-year-old man outside an Australia Post mail centre at Strathfield shortly before 5pm yesterday (Tuesday 22 December).

Police will allege they located four stolen gift cars in the man’s wallet during the arrest.

A search warrant was executed at a home in West Terrace, Bankstown, where police allegedly located and seized a further 161 stolen gift cards and vouchers.

Police also seized a number of household items which investigators will allege were purchased with the stolen gift cards.

The man was taken to Auburn Police Station where he was charged with:

• Two counts of theft of mail receptacles, articles or postal messages
• Two counts of obtaining money by deception.

The man has been granted bail and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court on 28 January 2010.

Flemington Local Area Command’s Detective Acting Inspector Karl Leis said, “This has been a successful joint operation between NSW Police and Australia Post. The information provided to police by Australia Post investigators led to the man’s arrest.”

Australia Post spokesperson Scott McIntyre said the corporation had a zero tolerance policy towards any staff member undertaking such activities would continue to work closely with Police.

“We’re angry and outraged that a staff member would be involved in something like this. It’s an isolated incident which reflects negatively on our 35,000 other hardworking staff that is honest.”

Assistant Commissioner John Hartley

Traffic Service Branch

Road Toll rises to 12–OPERATION SAFE ARRIVAL

The NSW road toll now stands at 12 after the death of a woman in a collision on the New England Highway near Armidale today.

About midday police and emergency services were called to the New England Highway near the intersection of Uralla Road at Armidale after reports of a two car collision.

Inquiries into the cause of the collision continue however it appears a north bound sedan and a south bound four-wheel drive towing a caravan collided. As a result the driver of the sedan, an elderly woman died at the scene

“After almost 45hours fatality free we have now had two deaths on the state’s roads within 16 hours,” said Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, Commander Traffic Services.

“I’m appealing to people, slow down, drive to the conditions, and get to your destination safely. Saving yourself a few minutes on the road by speeding is not worth it if you are involved in a car crash and someone dies as a result.”

“The road toll is high enough, we don’t want any more lives lost,” Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

On day 5 of OPERATION SAFE ARRIVAL (Tuesday 22 December) Police conducted:

• 28,937 breath tests.
• Charged 75 people with drink driving offences.
• 1,079 people were charged with speeding offences.

“Motorists should remember – just because you can’t see us, doesn’t mean we can’t see you. My officers are out in force, in marked and unmarked cars.

“Just remember – you never know who’s in the car behind you watching. If you break the law, police will catch you and you will be held accountable.” Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said.

Motorists are reminded that double demerit points for speeding and seatbelt offences are now in force until Saturday 3 January.

OPERATION SAFE ARRIVAL concludes at 2359hrs on Saturday 3 January 2010.

Hawkesbury Local Area Command

Woman charged with leaving child unsupervised in car – McGraths Hill

A woman has been charged with leaving her toddler unsupervised in a car in Sydney’s West yesterday.

About 11am a mother allegedly left her 18-month-old son unattended in a four-wheel-drive.

A member of the public noticed the child in the back of the vehicle in an open air car park at a shopping complex on Windsor Road, McGraths Hills. The windows were wound up.

The man then went into an electrical goods shop and the car’s registration details were broadcast over the public address system, with no-one coming forward.

He and another member of the public then went back to the vehicle. At this stage the child was screaming and appeared to be distressed.

The two men then smashed a window of the car and the child was taken to a pharmacy, where he was given water to cool down.

The child was in the car for about 20 minutes.

Police and paramedics attended the scene and the child’s mother, a 34-year-old Richmond woman, was located. It is understood she had been shopping inside the complex.

The infant was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

Following inquiries, the woman this afternoon attended Windsor Police Station where she has been charged with leaving a child unsupervised in a motor vehicle.

The woman has been granted bail and is due to appear at Windsor Local Court on 27 January 2010.

Leichhardt Local Area Command

Attempted murder – Broadway

Police have charged a man with attempted murder, after he allegedly tried to throw a woman from the upper floors of a shopping centre car park last night.

About 9pm, the 22-year-old woman was sitting on railing on the fourth level of a shopping centre car park at Broadway, when she was approached by the man.

The man allegedly grabbed the woman and slung her over the railing, holding her over a drop of approximately 30 metres to Francis Street.

The woman’s brother saw the incident and grabbed the man before she was pulled back over the railing.

The man and woman involved are related by marriage.

Police this morning arrested the 34-year-old man at his home in Canterbury. He was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with attempted murder.

The man has been refused bail and will appear at Newtown Local Court this afternoon.

Investigators are appealing for a large number of shoppers who witnessed the incident to contact them at Leichhardt Local Area Command via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

State Crime Command Sex Crimes Squad

Two men arrested following investigations into more than 200 historic child sexual assault offences–Sex Crimes Squad

Sex Crimes Squad detectives have this morning arrested two men following an investigation into more than 200 reported historic sexual assault offences against a child dating back to the 1980s.

About 8.25am today, detectives attended a unit on Weston Street at Harris Park, where they arrested a 60-year-old man. He has been taken to Parramatta Police Station where charges are expected to be laid.

Harris Park person of interest

Police also attended a house on Devere Avenue at Belrose about 8.30am, where they arrested a 66-year-old man. He has been taken to Dee Why Police Station where charges are expected to be laid.

Subsequent search warrants are currently being executed by police at the above addresses.

Today’s arrests relate to allegations of historic sexual assaults against a 16-year-old boy between 1979 and 1988, as well as the alleged prostitution of the boy to numerous males including men previously accused of child sexual assaults.

The offences were reported to police in 2008, and as a result Strike Force Lighthorse, which comprises detectives from the State Crime Command Sex Crimes Squad, was established to investigate the alleged incidents.

Goulburn Local Area Command

Woman dies in crash – Goulburn

Police from the Goulburn Local Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal motor vehicle collision in the State’s Southern Region overnight.

About 8.15pm (Tuesday 22 December 2009) a 28-year-old man was driving a Toyota Eunos, carrying a 28-year-old Filipino National, on the Hume Highway, Yarra, heading south.

The vehicle left the carriageway, crossed two lanes of traffic and crashed into a tree.

The passenger side of the vehicle took the full impact of the collision, killing the young woman.

The driver was uninjured although he was taken to Goulburn Base Hospital suffering shock.

Formal identification has not been conducted at this stage.

Officers from the Southern Region Crash Investigation Unit will conduct a full investigation into the collision and will prepare a report for the Coroner.

This brings our state’s road toll for ‘OPERATION SAFE ARRIVAL’ to 11.

Blacktown Local Area Command

Police appeal for information after robbery – St Marys

Police are appealing for information after a robbery in Sydney’s West earlier this month.

About 1.45am on Saturday 5 December two men entered a brothel on Queen Street at St Marys and threatened a number of staff members, demanding money.

An altercation occurred between one of the men and a 34-year-old female employee resulting in the woman being struck and falling to the ground.

St. Marys persons of interest

The men stole a mobile phone and a cordless phone and left the premises in an unknown direction.

St. Marys Police attended the scene and a crime scene was established.

Police would like to speak to two men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

Both men are described as being of Pacific Islander appearance, aged about 25 and about 183cm tall.

The first man was wearing dark coloured track pants, a blue jacket, dark shoes and a white cap.

The second man was wearing light coloured shorts, a grey jacket with a white ‘Russell Athletics’ insignia on the front and a white cap.

Anyone with any information about the incident or who can identify the men is urged to contact St Marys Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Eastwood Local Area Command

Stabbing – Eastwood

Police from the Eastwood Local Area Command are appealing for public assistance following a stabbing in Eastwood yesterday.

Officers were called to a block of apartments on Doomben Avenue following reports a man had been stabbed.

Upon arrival, a 61-year-old man was found inside a unit suffering a wound to his neck.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he underwent surgery.

The 61-year-old remains in a stable condition.

A crime scene was established and detectives will continue their investigations.

Anyone with information about this matter is asked to contact Eastwood Police, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command

Man charged over child pornography – Bondi Junction

Police from the Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command have charged a man following the execution of a search warrant in Bondi Junction yesterday (Tuesday 22 December 2009).

Detectives entered the unit on Hollywood Avenue about 9.20am, where they allegedly located and seized:

• Computer hard drives,
• USB flash drives,
• Mobile phones
• Other documentation.

The officers returned to Waverley Police Station and conducted further investigations with the exhibits.

About 5.30pm detectives attended the unit and arrested the 23-year-old man. He was taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.

The man was granted bail and will appear in Waverley Local Court on February 2 2010.

Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit

Man charged over Wilton multiple fatality collision

Police from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit have charged a man following a multiple fatality collision in Wilton earlier this month.

About 8.15am on Sunday 6 December 2009, a westbound semi-trailer and an eastbound Toyota Camry collided on Mt Keira Road.

Emergency services teams responded to the incident and located the five occupants of the Camry deceased at the scene.

The deceased persons included:

• A man aged in his 40s,
• Two females aged in their 40s,
• A 23-year-old woman,
• A three-month-old child.

A 56-year-old Wilton man who was driving the semi-trailer was taken to Campbelltown Hospital suffering shock.

About 7pm last night (Tuesday 22 December 2009) the 67-year-old man from Picton attended the Camden Police Station where he was charged with negligent driving occasioning death.

The man was given bail and will appear in Picton Local Court on January 27 2010.