Police patrol
With Stephen Taylor
Beach thefts warning
A FRENCH tourist had her iPhone stolen while swimming in front of Carrum Life Saving Club, 4.50pm, Saturday 16 December. The woman, 29, told lifesavers she was in the water for only 10 minutes. When she returned her Dakine bag containing ID papers, iPhone 7, green iPod, and a small amount of cash, was missing. A man who may be able to help police is described as Caucasian, mid-30s, 177cm tall, with light brown hair. He was last seen in a laneway behind the club. In a similar incident at Chelsea beach, early afternoon, Friday 15 December, a St Kilda East woman, 18, had her bag containing her iPhone 7 stolen while swimming. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant John Burgess, of Kingston CIU, warns beach-goers to be careful. “We want you to enjoy your day at the beach, but remember … thieves go to the beach, too,” he said. “Lock your car and remove all valuables from sight. “Don’t bring unnecessary items onto the beach. Leave them at home or find a discreet place to store them out of view. “Socks and shoes or under towels are not good hiding places – thieves have worked them out. “Thieves are opportunistic. They will wait for you to head for the water and will target you while you are not watching. “Use your spare or non-electronic car key when at the beach and keep it on you at all times. Most cars these days have remote-key entry. If a thief steals your remote they will head for the car park, pressing the key to easily find your car. “Also, don’t leave personal documents in your car or offenders who break in will learn your home address.” Anyone with information on these thefts is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Burglars assault homeowner A MAN taking a shower in his Bonbeach house heard the sound of male voices in another room. The homeowner, 33, went to investigate and saw two men in the living room. They allegedly assaulted him and stole two Samsung mobiles before making off in an old white Holden Commodore. The men were both Caucasian. One is described as 183cm tall, with a bandage around his ankle and carrying crutches.
Drugs, theft charges POLICE in a divisional van arrested the driver and passenger of a stolen car parked at a Mentone service station, 1.30am, Friday 15 December. They will allege a quantity of the drug ice was found on them. A 23-year-old Cheltenham man was charged with car theft and trafficking. Later, detectives obtained a warrant to search a house in Edward St, Cheltenham, and allegedly found more of the drug ice, as well as ammunition, stolen goods, and a machete. The man was remanded to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on 29 January. A 25-year-old Cheltenham man was charged with possession of drugs of dependence and bailed to appear at the same court in March.
Houses burgled THREE aggravated burglaries occurred at Patterson Lakes last week. A thief stole a purse and a wallet from a house in Lord Rodney Drive, overnight Saturday 16 December. He or she may have entered through an unlocked sliding glass door. A retirement village in Gladesville Boulevard was hit twice, overnight Monday 18 December. In the first robbery, the offender removed a flyscreen and opened a rear window at about 1am. Once inside he or she stole a purse. Credit cards inside were later used to buy goods to the value of $1000. At about 2.30am a burglar at a nearby unit was disturbed while jemmying a rear window and ran off. Detectives believe the same offender is responsible.
Drugs, weapons charges POLICE searching a car parked outside a McDonald’s restaurant, Wells Rd, Chelsea Heights, allegedly found a quantity of cannabis, extendable baton (which is a prohibited weapon), and a “large amount of cash”. A 34-year-old Patterson Lakes man is expected to be charged on summons with drugs and weapons offences.
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Car gone again A POWERFUL sedan stolen from outside a Chelsea Heights house was found next day with its steering column removed, Saturday 16 December. The 1998 Subaru WRX had been “hot-wired” and driven away from the Fielding Drive property. It was discovered, also with panel damage, in Bowen Parkway, Waterways. This is the second time the car had been reported stolen.
Phone, keys stolen A MOBILE phone and a set of car keys were stolen while the owner was kicking a footy at Roy Dore Reserve, Carrum, 10am, Sunday 17 December. A witness said the thief, who was walking a black Labrador at the time, picked up the iPhone and keys and walked away along Graham Rd towards McLeod Rd. He is described as Caucasian, late 20s, short, dark hair and fair skin.
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Bank mortgage man nabbed A FORMER Seaford loans manager has been charged with deceiving the National Australia Bank of more than $813,000. The Lysterfield man will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention in February over the alleged deceptions in which he is said to have “skimmed” a small commission percentage from up to 380 loans over four years. He will face up to 50 charges alongside a co-accused man, 33, of Box Hill South, who it is alleged to have acted as an external accomplice. The charges range from attempting to obtain property by deception, conspiring to defraud the bank and three counts of possessing the proceeds of crime – including a Ferrari and cash totalling $825,176. The loans they are alleged to have skimmed ranged in value from less than $100,000 to more than $2 million. Detective Senior Constable Stuart Hough, of
Frankston CIU, said Andrew Matthews, 35, the NAB’s mobile banker of the year for regional Victoria in 2015, was involved in a “sophisticated home loans commissions scam”. He allegedly falsified loans documents by getting customers to sign pages saying they had been referred through the bank’s Inducer Program 2012-16 which earned a small commission. Detective Hough said the program rewarded people who did not work for the bank for referring new customers. He said Mr Matthews split the commission paid to his alleged accomplice. Mr Matthews was sacked in July last year when the alleged scam was uncovered through the bank’s internal review processes. The fraudulent behaviour came after the NAB revealed it had sacked another 20 bankers and disciplined 32 over the sale of mortgages without accurate customer information and documentation. Stephen Taylor Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 20 December 2017
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