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FRIDAY, February 23, 2024
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Autumn | 2024
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STACKS OF FUN Ben Nyman is looking forward to seeing music fans converge on Wangaratta on Saturday, March 9 for the Wang’s Big Dig Record Fair in the Colin Cave Gallery at The Centre.
EXCITED BY FESTIVAL’S ‘FRESH START’ Page 5
REUBEN MEDALS ON THE WORLD STAGE
STORY PAGE 2 PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
Sport
BLUNT WARNING Burglary g y spike p across rural cityy keeping p g local police p busy, y, prompts p p public p plea p
PROPERTY owners are being urged to lock up their land, in the wake of recordhigh burglary figures in the Rural City of Wangaratta. Wangaratta crime prevention officer Leading Senior Constable Helen Parfett said despite a statewide campaign by the RACV and the Neighbourhood Watch shining a light on a spike in
BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au
business burglaries, it was residential burglaries which were keeping local police busiest. Crime Statistics Victoria figures compiled for 2023 showed at least five-year
highs three off th the ffour hi h iin th burglary categories, with non-aggravated burglaries (86) reaching their highest figure since 2014 (94). Residential aggravated burglaries (16) were their highest in more than a decade, while non-residential, non-aggravated burglaries (49) reached their highest since 2017.
The figures accompany Th a decade-high in motor vehicle theft (51), and thefts from a motor vehicle (142) falling just shy of a decadehigh 144 recorded in 2017. “We are finding that our rural property burglaries are happening a bit more now as the properties have no immediate neighbours, sheds are open and usually
keys are lleft k ft in i vehicles,” hi l ” LSC Parfett said. “Offenders appear to target power tools, equipment and vehicles as they have easy access to them. “Firearm holders should ensure that their firearms are stored securely under their roofline rather than in a shed which is a distance from the home.
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“Firearms stored “Fi t d in i rurall sheds also have tools and equipment readily available to use to break into the firearm safes. “Offenders can spend time in these sheds without the knowledge of the home owner due to the distance between each building.” ■ Continued page 3