NEWS DESK
High Sreet shops urged to ‘go green for Dermot’ SHOPS in High St, Hastings, are being urged to use a green theme in their windows to mark the murder three years ago of Dermot O’Toole. A candle vigil will also be held on 12 July. Mr O’Toole was stabbed during a robbery of his High St jewellery shop by Gavin Perry, who was convicted and sentenced to 27 years’ jail. An appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions over the leniency of the sentence were dismissed by the Court of Appeal last week. The family wanted his sentence lengthened while Perry was seeking a reduction. Perry, who was on parole for previous armed robberies at the time of the 5 July 2013 attempted robbery of the Jewel Shed, also stabbed Mr O’Toole’s wife, Bridget. Mornington Peninsula Shire last week asked shops to decorate their windows in a green or Irish theme from Sunday 10 July to Sunday 17 July. Members of Mr O'Toole’s family will attend a candle vigil starting at 5pm Tuesday 12 July to quietly remember the events that ended with his death. The vigil will be held at O'Toole Walk, named in his memory, at 52 High St. Attendees are also being
Stolen car in raid
Picture: Barry Irving
VANDALS smashed their way into a road making machine at Truemans Rd recreation reserve, Tootgarook, late Tuesday night. The bright yellow excavator cannot be started without a key code but aluminium window protectors – said to cost $4000 – were ripped off and several windows smashed. The fire extinguisher was stolen.
The following day a hand-painted sign on the excavator warned: “When I find you, run”. A graffiti “tag” on a nearby container is believed to have been done at the time of the attack. Rosebud police are investigating. Acting Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO Alison Leighton said the contractor was building footpaths.
Tobacconists take a hit
DERMOT O’Toole encouraged to wear something green. The memorial activities are being organised by Western Port Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mornington Peninsula Shire. Anger over lost appeal, Page 10
THIEVES raided two Mornington Peninsula tobacconists last week, stealing about $40,000 in cigarettes and tobacco products. Detective Leading Senior Constable Nick Sweetman, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said about $20,000 in cigarettes, tobacco and cash were stolen from the Bentons Square, Mt Martha, tobacco outlet early Sunday morning 3 July. Two men are seen on CCTV wearing gloves, caps and hoodies and driving a red Commodore around 3am. A newsagent, cafe and fashion store were also targeted in the latenight-early-morning raid in which the thieves spent more than six hours inside the centre. In a separate raid, thieves stole $20,000 in cigarettes from a Rosebud
Plaza tobacconist in the early hours of Wednesday 6 July. Five men in a stolen BMW X5 station wagon used a grinder to cut their way through a locked door, smashing glass panels and lifting up the roller door to gain entry to the plaza at 3.26am. They then filled three large bags with cigarettes. The men also attempted to raid the Telstra and Optus stores but managed to steal only imitation phones. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said the getaway car was later seen driving at 200kph north along Peninsula Link but, because of the speeds involved, police did not engage in a pursuit. Anyone with information about the raids should call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
A MCCRAE panel beater’s workshop was broken into early Tuesday morning and a customer’s car stolen. The 2012 Kia Cerato was lowered from a hoist by the thief and reversed through the roller door at about 4am, causing extensive damage to the workshop. The car was then used in a ram-raid at the Chemist Warehouse, Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said a man was seen stealing four shopping baskets containing fragrances and perfumes ranging upwards in price from $60. He said the man was only in the store three or four minutes but managed to steal up to $2000 in stock. The damaged car was later found hidden behind trees on the beach car park at Cannons Creek.
Fire destroys house A BURNING log rolling out of a fireplace is the likely cause of a house fire in Tootgarook, early Wednesday morning. The weatherboard house in Main St was “fully involved” when 25 career and volunteer fire fighters on eight appliances from Rye, Rosebud, Boneo, and breathing apparatus from Bayswater, arrived at 2.47am. Operations officer Andrew Turner, of Mornington CFA, said a lounge room fire box door may have been left open when the four adults living at the house went to bed. The four managed to evacuate the recently renovated house suffering only minor smoke inhalation. Damage to the house was described as severe. The fire was brought under control at 3.25am.
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