Daily Archives: 29/01/2015

Drivers on best holiday behaviour

DRIVERS have been praised for their “generally good behaviour” on Wodonga roads over the Australia Day weekend.

Acting Sgt Mal Burdett, of Wodonga highway patrol, yesterday said the fairly low number of offences recorded was pleasing, given the enormous number of vehicles on the roads as people enjoyed the holiday break.

Police nabbed 35 drivers for speeding and five for drink-driving or driving under the influence of a drug.

There were 63 other traffic-related bookings for such offences as driving an unregistered car.

“We have had no fatalities — just one serious collision at Eskdale,” Sgt Burdett said.

A speed camera set up in Wodonga along the Hume Freeway for a three-hour period on Monday checked more than 2000 vehicles and caught just six speeding motorists.

Sgt Burdett said, overall, motorists had been well behaved.

“It’s pleasing to see generally good behaviour over a long weekend. There’s always a few who will disappoint, especially drink-drivers or those who drive under the influence of drugs,” he said.

It was a different situation on the other side of the Border.

Top of the list was a motorist clocked travelling at 186km/h on the Hume Highway north of Holbrook.

Albury police also nabbed a 54-year-old man in Moore Street, Lavington, who was heavily intoxicated.

He recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.290 — almost six times over the legal limit.

Acting Sgt Don Qvist said police involved in the weekend-long blitz had caught 10 drink-drivers, 84 speeding drivers, 10 people not wearing seatbelts. There were 102 other offences.

Sgt Qvist said among the drink- drivers nabbed, two recorded high-range readings, four had mid-range readings and another four recorded low-range readings.

Man charged over alleged armed robberies – Lake Macquarie area

A man will face court of alleged armed robberies in the Lake Macquarie area this month.

On the afternoon of Monday 12 January 2015, a man armed with a knife entered a residence on Fennell Crescent and confronted a woman, demanding cash.

He fled the scene, allegedly taking a cash tin and a mobile phone.

Just before 9pm on Wednesday 14 January 2015, a man armed with a knife entered a residence on Turnbull Street and fled a short time later, allegedly taking a number of cash tins.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were notified of the incidents and commenced investigations.

Following inquiries, on Thursday 15 January 2015, a 26-year-old man was arrested by police at Bonnells Bay and taken to Lake Macquarie Police Station.

The man has been charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon.

He has been issued a Court Attendance Notice, to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 1 April 2015.

Police release images of graffiti following property damage and house fire – West Goulburn

The Hume Local Area Command Detectives are appealing to the community for information about graffiti damage and a house fire in West Goulburn during October last year.

During the week from Tuesday 21 October 2014, a home and property on Faithful Street, West Goulburn, was sprayed with graffiti.

Officers from the Hume Local Area Command were contacted, attended, and commenced an investigation into the damage.

On Saturday 25 October 2014, officers were called back to the home on Faithful Street after reports the house was well alight.

Police and Fire & Rescue NSW attended the location however the home was completely destroyed by fire. Officers have determined that the fire was deliberately lit and are investigating the circumstances surrounding it.

Investigators continue to make inquiries into both incidents, and are investigating whether the graffiti and fire are linked.

Images have now been released that depict a number of the items that were maliciously damaged by graffiti.

Detectives are urging anyone who may have witnessed the malicious damage incidents or recognises the graffiti, or has information about events leading up to the home being destroyed by fire to contact police via Crime Stoppers or Goulburn detectives on (02) 4824 0703.