OCTOBER 21, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Youth gang crackdown By Alesha Capone Police have arrested more than 250 people as part of an operation aimed at disrupting the activities of youth street gangs, including aggravated burglaries, assaults and home invasions. Operation Alliance has been running since September 13, in that time police have executed 88 search warrants in suburbs including Werribee, Caroline Springs, Deer Park, North Melbourne, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Pakenham, Corio and Bell Post Hill. Seventy people have been remanded in custody and police have laid more than 720 charges for offences including robbery, armed robbery, aggravated burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, conduct endangering life, car theft, breaching bail, and firearm and drug offences. Illegal firearms, drugs and prohibited weapons such as knives, tomahawks, swords, tasers, knuckle dusters and machetes were seized during the operation. Police said the majority of offenders arrested as part of Operation Alliance were males aged in their mid-teens to mid-twenties. Victoria Police’s Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, Rick Nugent, said Operation Alliance would remain focused on youth offenders involved in gangs. “We are utilising and sharing real-time intelligence to not only remain one step ahead of offenders to prevent further crimes from occurring, but to also identify and target the key influencers within these groups,” he said. In a separate incident, police arrested three men following an alleged armed robbery and stabbing in Werribee on Sunday. Emergency services were called to the intersection of Heaths and Tarneit roads about 1.20am. The victim was stabbed a number of times, and on Monday remained in hospital in a stable condition. A 19-year-old Deer Park man, a 25-year-old Hoppers Crossing man and a 26-year-old Point Cook man have been charged with armed robbery and intentionally causing injury. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www. crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Using powers for good Tarneit’s Andrew Lorenzo is donning a cape to send messages of hope to people across the world. A professional actor and life coach, Mr Lorenzo is also a prolific cosplayer of characters including Superman, Indiana Jones and Jack Sparrow. In the middle of the year he started an Instagram account under the name of “melbournesuperman” to help boost people’s spirits during the pandemic. Mr Lorenzo regularly dresses up as Superman to post photos, accompanied by positive messages, on the Instagram account. Every Friday evening, he hosts live Q&A sessions on topics ranging from fitness to Cosplay, Superman and acting. “I absolutely love promoting positivity, hope and being able to put a smile on someone’s face,” Mr Lorenzo said. So far, the account has amassed more than 1050 followers from countries including Australia, America, Brazil and Europe. “People are constantly messaging me saying, ‘thanks, I really got a smile out of that,’ or, ‘thanks, I really needed that’,” Mr Lorenzo said. Mr Lorenzo is also friends with Andrew Price and Maria Lodola-Price, the Manor Lakes residents who stage an annual Halloween event to raise funds for the Starlight Foundation. He said that this year, he and other Melbourne cosplayers would be helping the Price family put on a COVID-safe fundraising event. Details: facebook.com/ML.Halloween, instagram.com/melbournesuperman Alesha Capone
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