Ranges
5 Tuesday, 22 March, 2016
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Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
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Buck crime call cluded increases in drug dealing and trafficking offences (up 17.7 per cent), and weapons offences (up 17.1 per cent). Meanwhile, Liberal member for Evelyn, Christine Fyffe, has hit out at the Victorian Government over the 2015 statistics. Mrs Fyffe said the total rise in offences is 800 more crimes than under the former Coalition Government. “Crime in Victoria is up by 8 per cent, which is bad enough, but in the Yarra Ranges our crime rate is 3 per cent above average. That is reason to be concerned,” Mrs Fyffe said. “Labor has always been soft on crime and this is being reflected in the data. “Victorians expect their State Government to ensure adequate police numbers on the beat and robust penalties to be enforced by our courts.” Crime statistics in the Yarra Ranges: Total offences: Up 11.3 per cent - from 7068 to 7867; Yarra Ranges trends: Alleged offender incidents: 2528 to 2656 (up 5.1 per cent); Family incidences: 1374 to 1490 (up 8.4 per cent); Steal from a motor vehicle: 655 to 575 (down 12.2 per cent); Theft of a number plate: 187 to 198 (up 5.8 per cent). Offences across the Yarra Ranges: Healesville: 410 to 432 (up 5.4 per cent); Warburton: 241 to 243 (up 0.8 per cent); Yarra Junction: 195 to 139 (down 28.7 per cent); Seville/Wandin: 427 to 529 (up 23.9 per cent); Coldstream: 93 to 146 (up 57 per cent); Marysville: 22 to 17 (down 22.7 per cent); Yarra Glen: 88 to 141 (up 60.2 per cent); Lilydale: 1453 to 1629 (up 12.1 per cent); Mount Evelyn: 286 to 319 (up 11.5 per cent); Emerald: 445 to 282 (down 36.6 per cent); Ferntree Gully: 2006 to 1971 (down 1.7 per cent); Belgrave: 444 to 492 (up 10.8 per cent); Cockatoo: 226 to 233 (up 3.1 per cent).
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Students in harmony KALLISTA Primary School was among many schools around Australia celebrating Harmony Day yesterday, 21 March. Katherine Nadji from the school said the day represented a fantastic opportunity to celebrate inclusiveness in local schools. For the special occasion, Kallista primary students participated in damper making, a smoking ceremony and much more. Harmony Day is a day for all Australians to embrace cultural diversity, with the central message ‘everyone belongs’. Pictured from left (making damper) are Amber, Aimee, Kylie Eklund (kitchen teacher), Picture: ROB CAREW Luke and Priya. 151692
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DRIVERS who fail to lock their vehicles are fuelling an emerging crime trend within the Yarra Ranges, according to Lilydale Inspector Peter Wheeler. Inspector Wheeler said there had been a substantial rise in theft from a motor vehicle over the past 12 months, with crime statistics released late last week showing 575 cases in 2015 within the Yarra Ranges Police Service Area. Although slightly down on the previous year, Inspector Wheeler said the statistics still showed this was a crime class on the rise. “The broader community needs to be self-aware, not to keep valuables inside their vehicle,” Inspector Wheeler said. “The message doesn’t seem to be getting through.” Inspector Wheeler said it wasn’t uncommon for groups of youths to cruise the streets at night, looking for an opportunity. He said they often tried door handles of hundreds of cars, including those parked inside a private residence. “It seems to be youth offenders that are driving this category,” he said. “They are often successful, too; taking wallets, mobile phones and even laptop computers.” He said what was most frustrating was this was often a preventable crime. “It’s just either laziness or lack of awareness that is fuelling this category,” he said. Inspector Wheeler said another worrying trend within the region was theft of a number plate. He said although there were no statistics to support his theory, he believed there was a correlation between number plate thefts and rise in fuel prices. “What’s happening is number plates are being stolen to be used in petrol drive-offs,” he said. On a broader perspective, the total offences within Yarra Ranges increased 11.3 per cent, from 7068 to 7867. Family violence incidents increased from 1374 to 1490, a rise of 8.4 per cent. Trends within the state of Victoria in-
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By PETER DOUGLAS