Police patrol
With Neil Walker
Taggers targeted
Thirsty thief
A GROUP of graffiti vandals have seen their tagging days and nights curtailed after a major police operation saw 10 people across Melbourne, including one in Seaford, charged with various offences. Operation Samurai targeted nine properties that were raided by transit police in the early hours of Tuesday morning (27 March). Transit police allege those arrested were involved in graffiti tagging on trains and infrastructure across Melbourne’s rail network. More than 700 charges were laid including conduct endangering life, criminal damage, burglary and trespass. Police from Transit’s Divisional Response Unit and the Critical Incident Response Team seized allegedly stolen goods worth more than $100,000 in total. Two cars, cannabis plants, ecstasy and ice, cash, laptops, phones, memory cards and hard drives were also seized during the raids. “We’ve seen horrific injuries and even deaths as a result of the risky behaviour people engage it to commit these offences so we take it extremely seriously,” Acting Superintendent Andrew Gustke said. “This type of offending is often a gateway crime to much more serious offending where we see young people becoming embedded in a culture of crime. “This culture can lead to robbery, armed robbery and other serious crimes against the person, which is why we do everything we can to target these vandals as early as possible.” Properties at Seaford, Truganina, Altona, Yarraville, Brunswick, Tarneit and West Footscray were raided by police. A 30-year-old Seaford man was among the ten alleged graffiti vandals charged. Arson and explosives experts were called to a Yarraville property after explosive devices were found inside one of the seized cars.
POLICE are searching for a thirsty thief who used a stolen bank card to make a number of purchases, including a strawberry milk drink. Investigators have been told an offender entered the female change rooms of a soccer club on Monterey Boulevard, Frankston sometime between 3-4.15pm on Sunday 25 March. It is believed they went through a bag and took a number of items, including a black Mimco wallet, Tiffany necklace, bank cards, ID cards and a small amount of cash. A bank card was used later that day between 4.15-4.40pm at a number of locations in Frankston, including a convenience store, supermarket and petrol station. The card is believed to have been used by a man at the Seaford Road petrol station, who had stopped to fuel up on a strawberry milk beverage. Police have released images, below, of a man they believe may be able to help with their enquiries. He is of Caucasian appearance, about 178cm tall and aged between 22 and 25 years old with a slim build and fair hair. He was wearing a black T-shirt and pants.
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 4 April 2018
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