NEWS DESK
Gang crimes, car thefts Continued from Page 1 Frankston detectives are also seeking a stolen $150,000 red Mercedes Benz stolen from Sandringham overnight, Wednesday 4 November, and seen at several crime scenes in Frankston, Cranbourne, Narre Warren and Dandenong, along with the red Ford and, previously, the stolen BMW, which are all suspected of being used by gang members. The BMW was used in a petrol driveoff at the Seaford Rd United service station, 1am, Sunday 8 November. Detective Leading Senior Constable Paul Roberts, of Frankston’s Embona Task Force, said Mrs Matheson was a “much-loved woman with strong family and employer support”. Her death has highlighted how crime can affect innocent people going about their daily routines and how close we can be to danger – usually without knowing it. Detective Roberts said the stolen
cars have all been used for gang-related crime, with the Mercedes and the BMW seen at up to 10 petrol driveoffs, as well as the theft of liquor from Heatherhill Rd Cellars. The Ford has been seen at other incidents. In the liquor outlet raid, Sunday 8 November, two youths entered the store and helped themselves to $315 in beer and spirits, while the dumbfounded proprietor stood by helplessly. A third person sat outside in the BMW ready to drive them away. The next day the same car was involved in the fatal collision at Mordialloc. One of the alleged offenders, 16, of Keysborough, has since been arrested and charged with theft of alcohol and theft of the BMW. He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date. His accomplice, still at large last Wednesday but known to police, is thought to be related to the 15 year old arrested over Mrs Matheson’s death.
Trophy hunters: Mayor James Dooley and Frankston Council environmental education officer Debbie Coffey know Frankston deserves its ‘Sustainable City of the Year’ win. Picture: Gary Sissons
Arrest over carjacking HEAVILY armed police arrested a man in Frankston, 10.30am, Thursday, who is believed to be involved in the Bartlett St carjacking (See story at left). The man, 18, of Endeavour Hills, was arrested at a house in Gweno Av, Frankston, by members of the Special Operations Group. He is suspected of being a leading member of the Apex gang, whose members have been involved in a crime spree throughout the south-eastern suburbs. In the carjacking a 20-year-old man was threatened with a shotgun and a handgun before handing over the keys to his Ford XR6 sedan. It is still missing. The arrested man is believed to have been in the stolen BMW X5 at the time of the carjacking. He has been charged by Frankston Embona Armed Robbery Task Force detectives with armed robbery and assault related offences and remanded to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Friday for a filing hearing, Saturday, after appearing at an out-of-sessions hearing Friday. The stolen Ford XR6 was not recovered.
Car hunt: The stolen white 2008 XR6 Ford hijacked by gang members at gunpoint in Frankston South. Police are appealing for help in tracking it down. The original registration number is SAM95.
Frankston tops for sustainability FRANKSTON is beautiful, no matter what others may say after being named Australia’s most ‘Sustainable City of the Year’ by Keep Australia Beautiful last week. Judges at the not-for-profit environmental organisation decided Frankston was “a worthy overall national winner” at an awards ceremony hosted by last year’s title holders Brisbane Council. “The leadership, innovation and passion provided the council, and its collaborations with local community groups, schools and businesses, demonstrates a positive ‘can do’ attitude, and translates into a shared sense of purpose, tangible civic pride and a commitment to a sustainable future,” Australian sustainable cities judge Sean Rooney said. Frankston represented Victoria after being named the state’s ‘Sustainable City of the Year’ in June. Mayor Cr James Dooley said being named the nation’s most Sustainable City is a huge honour for Frankston. “With one thousand households taking part in council’s Halve Our Waste Program, over 20 environmental volunteer groups and thousands of residents and school students undertaking sustainability activities at home and in schools,
we really do have an active and engaged community who help keep our corner of Australia beautiful,” Cr Dooley said. “This award is also due to our city taking a strong position, by aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025 as well as adopting council’s 10-year environment strategy released earlier this year.” Frankston also won an award for ‘Environmental Sustainability’, recognising sustainable design features of the new Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC), the recently completed community solar program, council’s commitment to installing solar on their buildings, new ecologically sustainable development (ESD) standards for council buildings, and an alternative energy trial underway at the Frankston Arts Centre. The new Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre was also a factor in the win. Community involvement in friends groups, beach patrol clean ups, antigraffiti programs and the youth led ‘Fresh Entertainment’ group also impressed the judges. See the full Australian Sustainable Cities judge report at the Keep Australia Beautiful website at kab.org.au
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Frankston Times 23 November 2015
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