Brisbane Water Local Area Command

Police appeal for information after suspicious man follows boys to school – Umina

Brisbane Water Local Area Command has appealed for assistance from the community after two boys reported they were followed to school by a man in a car.

About 8.30am today two 11-year-old boys were travelling to school at Umina riding their pushbikes.

As they travelled north along Birdwood Avenue they became aware of a car following them.

The boys have told police that as they rode they saw the vehicle slow down and travel past them several times.

Although the man looked directly at the boys they have continued and whilst travelling eastbound on Ocean Beach Road the vehicle continued parallel to them in Australia Avenue.

As the boys passed the car they observed the lone male occupant to be shirtless. The boys were not harmed.

At school the boys reported the matter to the principal and police were informed.

The man has been described to police as being aged between 30 and 40 years, with black short hair, a medium complexion and no facial hair.

He was wearing a gold necklace and medallion and was driving a metallic blue Holden Captiva, which had roof racks, a chrome nudge bar, no tow ball and stock plastic wheel trims.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Brisbane Water Local Area Command on (02) 4323 5409 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Strike Force Raptor

65 firearms seized and licences suspended following pro-active firearms operation — Strike Force Raptor

Strike Force Raptor officers have seized 65 guns and suspended firearms licences as part of ongoing pro-active operations targeting firearm offences.

Police attached to Strike Force Raptor conducted further investigations at a business premises on Queen Street, Bowral, yesterday (Thursday 12 November).

As a result, officers located and seized a total of 65 firearms – including 47 rifles, one shotgun, 10 pistols and seven revolvers – and an amount of ammunition.

As a result, police suspended both the dealer and personal firearms licences of a 63-year-old man. Investigations are continuing and police expect to take further action.

This follows a previous inspection conducted by police at the business on Tuesday (10 November).

Strike Force Raptor is continuing to conduct pro-active operations in an effort to target firearm-related offences.

This recent development follows the previous arrest of a 45-year-old Fourth Reich Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) member during a search warrant at a large property in Sutton Forest last month.

Strike Force Raptor was established by the State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad and is a proactive and high-impact operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and their associated criminal enterprises.

STRANGER DANGER

Bankstown Police

Child approached – Villawood

Police are appealing for assistance after a child was approached in Sydney’s south west on Wednesday (13 November).

About 4.30pm a five-year-old girl was outside her home on Gurrawillie Street, Villawood, when a vehicle described as a white Mitsubishi van stopped outside the house.

The driver spoke to the girl and attempted to entice her into the vehicle.

The girl ran inside and told her parents what happened.

The driver of the van is described as a male with dark skin, skinny build and long hair. At the time he was wearing a pink shirt and brown jeans.

Due to the girl’s tender age police were unable to obtain a clear description of the incident immediately after the incident.

NSW Police

Meanwhile, the incident has prompted police to issue the following general safety advice and tips for children and parents.

GENERAL SAFETY ADVICE

• Parents should be alert to the safety of their children and where they are at all times.
• It is recommended that, where possible, children are escorted to and from school by an adult. If this is not possible, they should walk in groups with other children.
• Parents should walk the route to and from school with their children. Make sure it is the safest way to travel and, if possible, use busier roads and streets or paths where other people are likely to be. Avoid back lanes and short cuts through isolated areas.
• Talk to your child about where they should go if something happens to them such as a shop, service station, police station or school. Teach children buildings that are ‘safe’, like the police station with the blue check symbol.
• Use common signs to help children identify ‘safe adults’ they can approach for help. For example, the police blue checked square, their own doctor’s surgery, a library, an information sign at a shopping centre or a hospital if there is one close to home or school.
• Parents and caregivers should encourage their children to develop some simple prevention strategies that can apply across a range of situations to help the child know what to do.
• Always tell your children if someone other than you is going to pick them up from school. If your child is in a childcare centre, always inform the staff if someone other than yourself will be collecting the child.
• Tell your children to avoid talking to people they don’t know, including people in cars that pull over to the side of the road, and instil in them that they should never go anywhere or get into a car with someone they don’t know.
• These strategies should never replace adequate supervision but will assist a child when he or she is unsure what to do and help develop personal strengths to respect their own body and space.

GENERAL MESSAGES

• Child abduction is very rare in NSW.
• The Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad monitor reports of attempted abduction or abduction on a state-wide basis.
• Police take reports of these matters very seriously and conduct investigations into each of them. Reported suspicious behaviour can sometimes be misinterpreted by children.
• Reports of attempted abductions have increased in recent times. An explanation for this could be that children, parents, teachers and the community have become more vigilant to the possibility of abduction attempts and are more likely to make official reports.
• Increased level of reporting from the community sometimes coincides with increased media reports of possible abduction attempts.

NSW Police thoroughly investigate each and every incident of reported attempted abduction of children. We take a “better safe than sorry” approach to all reports of suspicious activity around children and will thoroughly investigate any reports.

We encourage all members of the community to report suspicious activity to police when they see it. It assists police greatly if reports are made promptly and that as much detail as possible can be provided about the descriptions of suspects and their vehicles are noted.

In particular, the provision of vehicle registration numbers allows the rapid resolution of matters.

Anyone with information that can assist investigators in relation to the Villawood incident is urged to contact Bankstown Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Campsie Local Area Command

Police appeal for public assistance after armed hold up – Lakemba

Police are appealing for public assistance in connection with an alleged armed robbery of a fast food restaurant in Sydney’s south west earlier this week.

About 1.25am on Monday (9 November) a man climbed through the drive through window of the restaurant on the corner on Chapel Street and Canterbury Road, Lakemba.

He demanded staff open the till before taking an amount of cash and fleeing the scene.

Police from Campsie Local Area Command attended the scene and are conducting investigations.

The man is described as having fair skin, about 165cm tall, about 25-20 years old and with a slim build.

At the time he was wearing a black hooded ‘Champion’ jumper, grey tracksuit pants with two black stripes down the sides, black sunglasses, a black cap and dark sunglasses. At the time he was armed with a knife.

Police wish to interview a person who may be able to assist with inquiries into the incident and have released an image of the person they wish to speak to in relation to the matter.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Campsie Police on 9784 9399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

NSW Police Force

Shoalhaven Local Area Command

Motorcyclist dies after collision with kangaroo – Nowra

A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a kangaroo on the south coast yesterday.

About 4.15pm (Thursday 13 November), the 39-year-old man was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle south along the Princes Highway in South Nowra, when a kangaroo jumped onto the road.

The animal hit the rider, causing him to fall off the bike and slide into the path of an oncoming Toyota Landcruiser.

The man, from Bondi Junction, suffered extensive injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at Shoalhaven Hospital.

The road was closed while officers from Shoalhaven Local Area Command examined the scene. The will include all their findings in a report for the information of the Coroner.

The kangaroo was not found at the crash scene.

Cabramatta Local Area Command

Murder charge – Canley Heights

A man will appear in court this morning charged with the murder of another man in Sydney’s south west yesterday afternoon.

About 4.30pm, an altercation occurred inside a house on Derby Street at Canley Heights, during which a 32-year-old man suffered a number of stab wounds.

The man made it out of the house before he collapsed and died in the front yard.

Investigators from Cabramatta Local Area Command established a crime scene and arrested two men at the house.

Early this morning, a 53-year-old man was charged with murder at Cabramatta Police Station.

The charged man was refused bail and will appear at Liverpool Local Court later today.

The other man was released without charge.

Further investigations will take place by local investigators at the house this morning.

Burwood Police

Police seek public assistance following alleged armed robbery – Burwood

Police are appealing for public assistance following an alleged armed robbery of a financial institution in Sydney’s west earlier this month.

About 2.10pm (Monday, 2 November), a man entered a financial institution on Burwood Road, Burwood and pulled a balaclava over his face and produced a firearm.

The man walked behind the counter before assaulting two female staff members and running from the scene.

Nobody was injured during the incident and police believe no money was taken.

The man is described as Pacific Islander in appearance, large build and about 180cm tall. He was wearing a dark coloured baseball cap, black track pants with a stripe and a dark tracksuit top with red sleeves.

Detectives from Burwood wish to interview a person who may be able to assist with inquiries into the incident and have released CCTV images of the person who they would like to interview in relation to these matters.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Burwood Police on (02) 9745 8499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Burwood Holdup

Burwood Holdup

Penrith Local Area Command

Child removed from cannabis house – Colyton

Two people have been charged after a child was found living in a cannabis house in Sydney’s west yesterday (11 November).

About 10pm officers from St Marys proactive crime team executed a search warrant at the address in Day Street, Colyton.

Inside the house they allegedly located a hydroponic setup with 173 cannabis plants.

A 27-year-old Bankstown woman and a 23-year-old Bankstown man were arrested at the address and taken to Penrith Police Station.

Police also found a three-month-old baby girl at the address, and she was taken into the care of DOCS.

She is believed to be the daughter of the 27-year-old woman.

The woman was subsequently charged with cultivating a prohibited plant and exposing a child to the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis. She was bail refused to appear at Penrith Local Court this morning.

The 23-year-old man was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of a prohibited plant, use electricity without authority and resist arrest.

The man was refused bail and will appear at Penrith Local Court this morning.

Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens

Deputy Commissioner pleads to Hunter community: Stay alive on the roads

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens has visited the Newcastle City Local Area Command today urging road users to take extra care as this year’s road toll continues to rise.

Deputy Commissioner Owens said everyone in the community has the power to take control and reduce the risk of killing themselves or someone else.

“Newcastle City Local Area Command is doing everything in its power to send a message to the community and to get speeding, drunk and dangerous drivers off the road,” he said.

“Right now ‘Operation City Roads’ is putting highway patrol cars out on the streets but the real power lies with individuals thinking long and hard about alcohol, speed and fatigue.

“Police can talk until they are blue in the face about this but now is the time for parents to talk to their children, partners to talk with each other and mates to talk to mates – think about what they are doing on the road.

“If a friend is putting your life in danger with dangerous driving, drink driving or driving while fatigued, pull them into line and take some action.

“Tell them ‘hold on, this is crazy and you need to stop!’”, Deputy Commissioner Owens said.

Mr Owens said many Year 12 students, who have just finished their Higher School Certificate, will be travelling long distances for ‘schoolies week’ and most of them will have little or no experience in long-haul driving.

“This is where parents have to get in their ear. These young people are excited, they want to get on the road and they simply will not be thinking about taking breaks, taking their time and focusing on safety.

“It’s a recipe for tragedy and we have seen it too many times.

“Everyone knows when they are fatigued – even young drivers know those warning signs. The question is what do we do about it? I say take a break, do not push through… you will kill someone,” Mr Owens said.

“When we talk about personal responsibility, when we say “It’s About You” this is what we are talking about…… it’s about actually doing something, taking action,” he said.

• 2009 Road Toll: 404 which is 90 more than the same period last year.
• Fatality Risk Profile:
• Male motorbike riders
• Age Group: 46-55
• Fatal motorbike High risk period: 64% occurs on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday
• Vulnerable road users: 33% of fatalities comes from Motorbike riders, pushbike riders and pedestrians

Arrive late rather than dead on time

Flemington Local Area Command

Fire guts café – Lidcombe

Police from Flemington Local Area Command are investigating the cause of a fire which destroyed a café at Lidcombe this morning.

Emergency services were called to John Street shortly before 2am following reports of an explosion.

When police arrived they found a café was well alight. Despite efforts by NSW Fire Brigades officers the business was gutted.

Witnesses told police they heard an explosion shortly before the fire broke out.

Police are hoping to speak with a man who is being treated at Auburn Hospital for burns believed to have been sustained from the café fire.

John Street was blocked off from 2am while investigations got underway.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Auburn Police on 02 9646 8699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.