5 February 2019

Page 3

NEWS DESK

Police put brakes on car crimes Brodie Cowburn brodie@mpnews.com.au DETECTIVES from the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston have charged 26 people as part of Operation Pandora which targets vehicle crime. Seventeen of those charged since the operation began on 7 January have been remanded in custody and several stolen cars and large amounts of property recovered. Charges include aggravated burglary, burglary, theft of a motor car, theft from a motor car, reckless conduct endangering life, and obtaining property by deception. Those charged will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date. They include a Frankston North man, 25, on 40 counts, a Hastings man, 27 (10 counts), a Langwarrin man, 29 (30 counts), and a Baxter man, 23 (16 counts). High-end cars stolen on the peninsula over the Christmas and New Year period included a Range Rover from Mt Martha and a Porsche from Safety Beach. Both cars had been left unlocked with the keys inside. Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen McKenzie, of Frankston CIU, said the operation was started to “combat a large spike in vehicle crime”. “The term vehicle crime does not adequately explain the danger and cost to the local community,” he said. “In the holiday period we have had criminals entering houses in the middle of the night to steal car keys and being confronted by half-asleep occupants, causing emotional and occasionally

physical harm. “Police have been working extremely hard to identify and lock up those responsible, but need the public to help prevent it in the first place. We can forgive the forgetfulness, but we need to work harder together to minimise the harm. “I ask the public to lock vehicles, not leave spare keys in vehicles parked at the same location, not leave valuables in vehicles, lock house doors and windows at night, and not leave car keys in obvious places.” Detective McKenzie said stolen vehicles had been used in numerous crimes, such as ram raids, and were often found later “dumped and burnt out.” “The majority of stolen vehicles are driven by criminals recklessly at high speeds, running red lights and often ramming police to evade capture,” he said. “We’ve had criminals walking along an entire street, opening every unlocked vehicle and stealing cash, electronics, wallets and identification. They use stolen credit cards to buy goods before the owner even knows the card is stolen. “They will use stolen identification to steal hire cars. They often steal registration plates and use them to avoid detection or commit petrol drive offs.” Detective McKenzie said that while “prevention is largely the responsibility of the community, if the police need to be the cure then the criminals need to know we are active 24 hours a day”. “We will find you, arrest you, and most likely find a prison cell to house you,” he said. With Stephen Taylor

Picture: Gary Sissons

Ram raider takes a turn smashing servo A MAN extensively damaged the United service station at Tyabb yesterday (Monday) by driving a utility through the front glass doors and windows. The ute did a three point turn inside the shop before being driven off. Owner Simarjeet Virdi said CCTV showed the older model, dark-coloured, single cab tray ute with bull bar ramming four glass panels three times bringing down shelving and part of the ceiling, 4.30am, Tuesday 29 January. The extent of the damage was unclear but Mr Virdi said it could be $15,000-$20,000.

He said he knew of no reason for the incident at the service station on FrankstonFlinders Road. The driver did not get out of his car and left without stealing anything. No one was in the store at the time. Somerville detectives are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or who has further information or dash cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic. com.au

Julia Banks wants job of former colleague Greg Hunt Continued from Page 1 “People in their communities back people who’ve worked for their communities, worked in their communities, ” Mr Morrison said. Mr Hunt’s message on the day, repeated on radio, television and in newspapers, was summed up by the first sentence of a statement issued by his office: “I will continue to work hard delivering for the people of Flinders.” His statement did not mention Ms Banks or why he felt the need to even make a statement. Mr Hunt and Ms Banks (who says Mr Hunt has not spoken to her since September) have both been emphasising their “local” credentials when interviewed by the media. Mr Hunt was born and educated on the peninsula; his children were born at the hospital where his wife had worked and now attend local schools. Ms Banks and her husband Michael have owned a house at Red Hill for over 20 years. Her parents lived in Mornington for many years: her father until his death in 2007, and her mother until only a couple of years ago. When announcing her departure from Liberal ranks in November, Ms Banks was scathing of “members of the [Liberals’] reactionary right wing” claiming “the coup was aided by many MPs trading their vote for a leadership change in exchange for their individual promotion”.

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“Their actions were undeniably for themselves, for their position in the party, their power, their personal ambition, not for the Australian people who we represent, not for what people voted for in the 2016 election, not for stability, and disregarding that teamwork and unity delivers success. “The Liberal Party has changed. Largely due to the actions of the reactionary and regressive right wing who talk about and talk to themselves, rather than listening to the people.” Even though she is standing as an independent, Ms Banks last Friday told The News that she still held to “centre liberal values”, something the coup plotters had forsaken in the name of ambition. She frequently, and admiringly, refers to former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop, whose political ascendency took a backward step as a result of the coup. Ms Banks says the plotters have never explained their reasons for the coup. “It was all about ambition and selfinterest, there was no business case for it. There are still no answers as to why they got rid of Turnbull.” A former corporate lawyer and private enterprise board member, Ms Banks opposes Labor’s proposed changes to dividend tax policy and negative gearing. She is critical of her former party’s about-face on climate change issues. Ms Banks is certain “traditional Liberal voters are fed up; too many politicians take people for fools”.

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6 February 2019

PAGE 3


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