26 October 2009

Belco Bus Station - Not Safe in Middle of the Day

| MrMagoo
Join the conversation
23

Had a pretty nasty experience today at the Belconnen Bus Station on Lathlain St. Was pushing the pram with my youngest and some shopping and shortly after I cross the road near magnet mart to wait at the station, a guy yelled at me to say that I had stolen his money. When I asked him what he was talking about he said that I had stopped at the seat up there and taken his $12 off the bench.

Needless to say I hadn’t and I tried to tell this bloke that pushing a pram and having a pretty serious vision impairment would render me pretty useless in the petty theft dept.

He seemed kind of convinced, but ten minutes later he came screaming back at me, this time threatening me and abusing me in front of not only my child but several witnesses.

He claimed that the girls over there had said I’d taken his money. He got quiet agitated and I was reasonably intimidated at this time. I gave him money to get him away from me and my son and then asked the driver of the bus that had just pulled up to call the police.

Several people were witness to this, including one guy who gave me some money to give to this guy to try and get rid of him. The bus driver called base and shortly after some ACTION guys arrive, but by this time I had gotten the hell out of there on my own bus.

Two young guys took the pram and my shopping while I looked after my little fella. To those two guys, thanks so much.

Subsequently I’ve reported the incident to police and spoken with ACTION. There is of course no cctv at the temporary bus station and the guy legged it pretty soon after he saw the ACTION blokes arrive.

Folks it isn’t even safe to be at the Bus Station in the middle of the day. I’m not scared easily but I was today and let this be a warning to anyone and everyone, don’t be there alone even in broad daylight.

Join the conversation

23
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

MrMagoo said :

Hugh Lews said :

That’s not a bus station thing, it’s a Belco thing…

As if the cops would have done anything…maybe 2 hours later they’d show up..

still, sounds soft by you..

High, not sure if you are saying that I was soft???? if so mate, drop yourself in place and see how you would have gone?

I wouldn’t worry about his comment, Mr Magoo, I suspect his tough guy internet personality doesn’t translate to the real world.

Today the Belconnen Community Council hosted a lunchtime forum where Belconnen residents, traders and workers could ask Roads ACT, Westfield and ACTIOn about the bus Interchange developments – and the issues regarding the temporary bus stops.

I asked if the CCTV cameras were operating and was ASSURED that they were, but they weren’t being monitored.

As i have had problems going through ACTIONS Customer service before (mostly very clueless, but very polite) your best bet is to write to Tim Swift, Acting CEO and demand the footage. Make sure you write a letter, emails and phone calls are easily fobbed off.

Westfield assured us that the westfield bus station will be complete by OCT 2010.

Hugh Lews said :

That’s not a bus station thing, it’s a Belco thing…

As if the cops would have done anything…maybe 2 hours later they’d show up..

still, sounds soft by you..

High, not sure if you are saying that I was soft???? if so mate, drop yourself in place and see how you would have gone?

Mike Crowther11:09 pm 28 Oct 09

Mr Magoo, a bloke got taken into custody in Queanbeyan today. Same MO. Hairy shaggy bloke with mad eyes. e mail me mpcrowther@gmail.com if it sounds like your bloke. I tried to contact ACT policing but there was no-one home today.

That’s not a bus station thing, it’s a Belco thing…

As if the cops would have done anything…maybe 2 hours later they’d show up..

still, sounds soft by you..

Genie said :

But this incident could of ocured at any Bus Station/Interchange/Shopping Centre/etc in the world. It is just that the fruit loops spend most of their time at Lathlain Street Bus Station. But once the Westfield Bus Station is complete they will move somewhere else.

I’m sorry I have to agree with TP here. I’m terribly sorry for what happened… but you make the bus stations sound horrible when this could of happened anywhere.

As for getting the bus driver to call the police. Yes you has a child with you pram shopping etc. But the police station is 100-150m away ?? If you felt that unsafe, safety was only a minute away.

Genie, I am vision impaired and quite honestly the guy had me pretty well blcoked in and yep I’ll admit I was quite intimidated by this time. I didn’t like my chances of getting that far without being phsycially assaulted by this guy.

It’s done and dusted now, but I can tell you I was a bit gunshy at the bus station yesterday, kept checking for the guy.

Holden Caulfield11:22 pm 27 Oct 09

People suck.

Very old trick he used. My response to him would have been I’m on my way to met my mates, Bubba and hacksaw who just got out of the clink… I’d give up if I were you!

But this incident could of ocured at any Bus Station/Interchange/Shopping Centre/etc in the world. It is just that the fruit loops spend most of their time at Lathlain Street Bus Station. But once the Westfield Bus Station is complete they will move somewhere else.

I’m sorry I have to agree with TP here. I’m terribly sorry for what happened… but you make the bus stations sound horrible when this could of happened anywhere.

As for getting the bus driver to call the police. Yes you has a child with you pram shopping etc. But the police station is 100-150m away ?? If you felt that unsafe, safety was only a minute away.

Wow, that’s pretty horrific.

Although it’s easier to say than to actually do, instead of attempting to explain why you couldn’t have been a thief, drop the word ‘the police’ and ‘ringing them’ into the equation and it’s likely he’ll move on.

And even if he doesn’t take off – who do you think the police (in the event they showed up) would be supporting – an irrational, hot head or a woman/man with a pram and a toddler in tow.

Sounds terrible.

harley said :

Two young guys took the pram and my shopping while I looked after my little fella. To those two guys, thanks so much.

You mean they helped out, or they stole it and you were being sarcastic? I’m assuming the former, as you didn’t mention it again (and a pram and shopping would have me more cut than a few bucks and some abuse), I just wanted to be sure.

Good on ’em if you meant the former.

No the two young guys helped, took everything onto the bus for me, except my son whom I had a firm hold of at this point. I did report it to police and a report was filed but nothing else.

TP 3000 said :

There are CCTV cameras on all bus stations in Belconnen, the footage goes via 3G feed to the Winchester Centre.

Your best option would of been to go straight to the Info Shed on Lathlain Street.

But this incident could of ocured at any Bus Station/Interchange/Shopping Centre/etc in the world. It is just that the fruit loops spend most of their time at Lathlain Street Bus Station. But once the Westfield Bus Station is complete they will move somewhere else.

TP I called Police and ACTION, there is no CCTV it hasn’t been activated due to costs associated with a temporary bus station.

Two young guys took the pram and my shopping while I looked after my little fella. To those two guys, thanks so much.

You mean they helped out, or they stole it and you were being sarcastic? I’m assuming the former, as you didn’t mention it again (and a pram and shopping would have me more cut than a few bucks and some abuse), I just wanted to be sure.

Good on ’em if you meant the former.

Mike Crowther11:41 pm 26 Oct 09

Its a very old crim trick, make the victim feel theyve done something wrong and puts you in a mindset where you want to ‘fix-it’. You’ve been robbed (at a minimum, he’s demanded money with menaces). Now, please take the time to report this to the police so that at some point this scrote can at least be inconvenienced with being arrested. (Even if the courts in this town refuse to protect the community).

oldest scam in the book, you just got robbed.

next time just say…. “I’ll call the police, they are just there and we will let them sort it out” …. and watch him run

Very unpleasant for the OP, given his predicament.

Having said that I live for the day some clown tries this on me

grunge_hippy8:41 pm 26 Oct 09

sounds like people are amping up their “got some spare change” spiel…

how horrifying.

There are CCTV cameras on all bus stations in Belconnen, the footage goes via 3G feed to the Winchester Centre.

Your best option would of been to go straight to the Info Shed on Lathlain Street.

But this incident could of ocured at any Bus Station/Interchange/Shopping Centre/etc in the world. It is just that the fruit loops spend most of their time at Lathlain Street Bus Station. But once the Westfield Bus Station is complete they will move somewhere else.

Sounds like a desperate druggo looking for a new way to score some cash without needing to knock someone over and steal their handbag. He must have been brazen and desperate, the police station is only 100m up the road..

The Lathlain Street stop was popular before the other half of the bus routes stopped there. It’s hardly new.

As for safety, I’d rather be at a streetside stop with shops and passers-by nearby providing passive surveillance, than an abandoned old interchange that is only staffed a few hours a day, that is so desolate that it’s full of skateboarding kids, and with no passers-by at all. I doubt anyone would have come to your aid at the old junkyard, err, interchange.

How awful. Sounds like the guy was mentally Ill or hepped up on goof balls.

It’s nice to know that people were willing to help you though.

I thought there were quite a few cameras at Lathlain St.

Sounds like a mental health patient to me. Dont worry, as a victim of crime you wont have any rights, and he’d be lucky to be convicted of anything if you went to court. If he was charged, expect him to get a bond.

Im sorry this happened to you, particularly in front of your son (which I think is a crime in itself), and obviously this person isnt getting the help they he needs.

Cheers

Steve

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.