NEWS DESK Police patrol ‘Gun’ in hand
Towed in the hole: A Ballarat boater was dragged into Mordialloc Creek after running out of fuel during a celebration of the Mordialloc Boating and Angling Club’s 70th anniversary on Sunday. Pic: Gary Sissons
Boat club’s 70th all at sea MORDIALLOC Boating and Angling Club sailed into its 70th anniversary celebrations at the weekend when a flotilla boats took part in a “sail past” from Mordialloc pier to Mentone at 10am on Sunday (3 June). Club president David Flew said the boating and angling club, which now has 70 members, held its first meeting in July 1946 so the sail past was timed to coincide with that landmark. “A group of boat owners got together then and formed what was then the Mordialloc Boat Owners Association,” he said. “A whole heap of interesting people have been members of the club over the years. Jack Pompei was the original secretary.” The sail past was followed by a luncheon at Doyles Hotel. Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley and councillors Geoff Gledhill and Ron Brownlees attended the celebrations on the day. The mayor was involved in an on-water operational matter when a boat owner from Ballarat “ran out of fuel” and was towed in to the creek by
a vessel with Cr Bearsley onboard. Mr Flew said the so-called “rescue” was a perfect example of how boat owners in the area have looked out for each other over the past seven decades. “All the people in the creek look after each other,” he said. Mr Flew, who has been involved with the club for 15 years, said investment by Kingston Council in the dredging of the creek in the past few years had improved access for all boat owners. “We’re really looking forward to the investment by Parks Victoria in replacing the wave baffles,” he said. “My understanding is the tender has closed and we hope they’ve got a successful bidder.” New wave baffles will calm creek flow and protect boats anchored in the creek from potential damage. “Boat owners come and go, boats come and go but the character of the creek with old-style wooden boats has continued,” Mr Flew said. Neil Walker
NEIGHBOURS called police when an obviously drunk and emotional man walked up and down Collins St, Mentone, making threats to kill, 8.20pm, Sunday 3 July. They said the man, 50, appeared to have a small gun in his hand and was saying he wanted “to end it all”. Various police units met at Mentone railway station and when confronted the offender told police the “gun” was actually a cigarette lighter. He obeyed their orders to walk outside and surrender. He was taken to hospital for assessment.
Medico, policeman bashed
A DOCTOR who went to help an obviously disturbed man outside a kebab restaurant in Boundary Rd, Mordialloc, was punched several times to his face causing cuts and bruising. Police were told the offender was with a group of friends when he “went missing”, 6.50pm, Friday 1 July. They found he had stripped off his clothing and jumped on a parked car. When the driver got out the man punched him several times to the face, knocking him down and stomping on his head. The man also assaulted two of his friends who tried to intervene. Moorabbin PACER unit members, including the doctor and a policeman, were in the restaurant. When they ran to assist the man assaulted them until the policeman was able to use his baton and OC foam to subdue him. Backup units arrived to help. The man and the policeman were taken to Monash Medical Centre for treatment. Mordialloc police are considering laying a series of charges after talking to the man’s victims.
Passengers terrorised
TWO 16-year-old boys were terrorised while riding a Patterson Lakes’ bus, 5pm, Thursday 30 June. Chelsea police said the boys boarded at Carrum railway station carrying a bag of potato cakes. Six 18-year-old youths wearing
hoodies were already seated at the rear. When the boys sat down and began eating the youths moved in behind them and threatened violence if they didn’t share their food. The youths then punched the boys several times until they handed over an iPhone and jacket. The youths got off at Lakeview shopping centre and the victims. Police said the victims appeared too scared to identify their attackers. The bus driver may have been unaware of the incident. Call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 with information.
Weapon found
A PROHIBITED weapon was found on the driver’s seat of an unregistered car at Bonbeach, 11pm, Sunday 3 July. Police saw a Frankston North man driving along Harold St with a false rear number plate. The man pulled over when he saw police and attempted to walk away. When challenged he admitted he was disqualified from driving and allowed police to search the car where they found a large knife. Police are preparing a brief of offences before charges are laid.
Online sale fraud
POLICE are reviewing CCTV footage from Chelsea Woolworth’s store after a dodgy Gumtree transaction, Saturday 2 July. The buyer, 43, of McCrae, said she arranged to meet the seller of an Apple iPad at the store at 4pm. A man who gave his name as “Glenn” agreed to accept $200 cash for the iPad. He said it was in good working order but the battery was flat. When the woman took the iPad home to recharge she could not connect it to the internet. A message appearing on the screen said it was “lost and erased”. When the buyer called “Glenn” she was told he would call back in 10 minutes. He didn’t. When she called again her call was blocked. The Gumtree conversation was also blocked. Police are checking “Glenn’s” mobile number and making inquiries with Apple regarding the registered owner of the iPad.
Late night carjackings in police sights Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au CARJACKINGS sit atop a range of high profile offences being monitored by police in Mordialloc, Keysborough, Braeside, Carrum and Patterson Lakes, with crime statistics Victoria-wide showing the brazen thefts have shot up 80 per cent in the past year. Victoria Police launched Operation Cosmas in May to respond to the rise in aggravated burglaries and carjackings, with 60 people arrested statewide since the operation began. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told ABC News that people were becoming concerned about
gang-related activity and what he dubbed the “Grand Theft Auto generation”. In recent weeks, loose associations of young men possibly emanating from the infamous Apex crime gang have targeted drivers of expensive European cars in Malvern and nearby suburbs, innocuously bumping into them on lonely roads late at night/ early morning. When the drivers pull over they are bashed and their cars stolen for use in crime sprees. Patterson River CFA crews were first on the scene when a stolen Honda CRV was torched on the Mornington Peninsula freeway off-ramp at Thames Promenade, 12.30am, Wednesday 29 June.
The car had been nabbed a few days earlier at Hampton Park. It was set alight using accelerant. Patrolling police and the Dog Squad were unable to find the offenders. Three recent carjackings in Frankston – on Frankston-Flinders Rd, 30 October; in Bartlett St, Frankston South, 5 November, and in Ashley Av, Frankston, 15 June – highlight the dangers to motorists of driving late at night. The government is believed to be working closely with police on tough new laws, with an offence of carjacking to target those stealing a car using force or putting a person in fear of being subjected to force. The offence of aggravated carjack-
ing would apply where force is excessive, causes injury, or involves using a weapon. The rise in vehicle-related crime has been driven by a significant increase in the theft of number plates,” Acting Superintendent Simon Humphrey said. This information is included in Frankston police district crime statistics released recently. They show that, in the year to March, a record 15,286 offences were reported in Frankston compared to 14,271 the year before – a 7.1 per cent hike (or 1015 offences) in the year. “The stolen plates are used to commit further offending, including petrol theft, petrol drive offs and toll
and fine avoidance,” he said. “Number plates are relatively easy to steal, particularly those that have not been fixed with tamper-resistant screws. Victoria Police is currently engaged with VicRoads in work towards the development and implementation of theft-resistant and tamper-proof number plate technologies. “But we also urge people to look after and secure their property – including number plates. They are commonly stolen from vehicles parked in residential streets, near railway stations and shopping centres. “Where possible, people should park vehicles off-street, in locked garages where possible, or in well-lit areas.”
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6 July 2016
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