1. Light fingered women in Westfield Belconnen:
ACT Policing has arrested a 25-year-old Ngunnawal woman and an 18-year-old Evatt woman following the theft of more than 50 items from a number of stores at Westfield Belconnen yesterday afternoon (Wednesday December 22).
About 5.30pm Westfield security staff alerted Police to a suspicious vehicle parked in the Myer carpark. The security staff believed several items stolen from various stores in the mall had been placed in the vehicle.
CCTV footage of the incident supplied to police led to the offenders being located inside the mall. Both women were arrested and taken to the ACT Watch House.
The two females will be summonsed to attend the ACT Magistrate’s Court at a later date.
Sergeant Brett Coutts from the Belconnen Police Station said that a newly formed Belconnen beats team had been patrolling the mall over the last few weeks in the lead-up to Christmas.
“The Belconnen Beats Team has been patrolling the Belconnen area since 27 November. So far, the team has responded to 66 jobs and recovered a large amount of stolen property belonging to retailers within the Belconnen Mall,” he said.
The Belconnen Beats Team will continue until 6 January 2011.
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A 46-year-old Braddon man was arrested yesterday afternoon (Thursday, December 23) after police executed a search warrant on his premises.
During the search police seized an amount of suspected stolen property, a replica pistol and a quantity of illicit substances suspected to be meth amphetamine, heroin and cannabis.
After the completion of the warrant the man was arrested and conveyed to the watch house. He was charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of crime and possession of a prohibited weapon.
He will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Friday, December 24), bail will be strongly opposed by police.
ACT Policing will have a strong presence across Canberra during this New Year’s Eve celebrations targeting anti-social behaviour and underage drinking.
There will be a focus on New Year’s Eve hotspots such as Civic, Dickson, Manuka and Kingston to ensure that every person seeing in 2011 can do so in a safe and secure environment.
In addition to normal response capabilities, ACT Policing will be dedicating resources towards the early targeting of underage drinking and members of ACT Policing’s Alcohol Crime Targeting Team will be attending a number of licensed premises enforcing the new liquor laws.
ACT Policing’s Superintendent Mark Antill has a message for under-aged drinkers and people who supply under-aged drinkers with alcohol.
“I would encourage young people to remember that having a good time doesn’t require alcohol. If you are under 18 and you or your friends do get caught drinking, it certainly won’t be something to celebrate.
Consuming alcohol under the age of 18 is an offence and those caught breaking this law or those caught supplying drinks to people under 18 will face the consequences,” he said.
Superintendent Antill says police will not tolerate public drunkenness and anti-social behaviour which detracts from other people enjoying the evening.
“We want all Canberrans to enjoy themselves this New Year’s Eve, but not at the expense of others. Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated,” he said.
Common sense, being alert and good planning is key to remaining safe this New Years Eve and ACT Policing urges people attending the festivities across the capital to use common sense strategies when out celebrating, these include:
— Remain alert and be aware of the people around you.
— Think ahead – consider how you are going to get home – what about pre-booking a taxi or arranging a lift with a friend or family member?
— Make sure you stay with your party and someone knows where you are at all times.
— Never leave drinks unattended and only accept drinks from people you trust.
— Ensure you have enough money to get home or to phone. Never hitch-hike.
— Keep away from trouble – if you see any trouble or suspect that it might be about to start; stay clear. The best thing you can do is to alert the police and keep away.
— Walk purposely and try to appear confident. Be wary of casual requests from strangers, like someone asking for a cigarette or change – they could have ulterior motives.
— Handle money cautiously and discreetly. Also consider the necessity of the items you are carrying in your handbag or wallet – keep valuables to a minimum.“We remind the community that road safety is everyone’s responsibility and drivers need to be cautious about having residual alcohol in their system on Saturday morning,” Superintendant Antill said.
“If you plan to drive to any of the New Year’s Eve events, then plan on being breath tested. We are out in force to catch people who drink and drive to keep our roads safe.
If you plan to drink, take alternate transport to work or play the next day. Take the extra precaution – let someone else do the driving the day after the night before.”
Current road closure information:
— Road closures will take place on London Circuit between Petrie Plaza and Akuna Street from 5pm until about 2am.
— Mort Street will be closed for 12 hours between Cooyong Street and Bunda Street from 5pm until 5am.
— During the fireworks display, other road closures will be implemented southbound on Northbourne Avenue between 8.50pm to 9.30pm and also from 11.50pm to 12.30am. Traffic will be diverted left along Cooyong Street, into Ballumbir Street, Coranderrk Street, Parkes Way with access to Commonwealth Avenue. The laneway behind the Canberra Theatre will also be closed.
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4. It’s easy to get carried away in the big smoke:
A 26-year-old P-plate driver was caught drink driving early yesterday morning (Wednesday 30 December) in Condor.
Around 2.55am members of Tuggeranong Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a gold Ford Telstar. The driver underwent a breath screening which returned a positive result. The driver was from Parkes, NSW and stated he was intending to drive home.
The driver was taken to Tuggeranong Police Station where he returned a reading of 0.157. As the 26-year-old is a provisional licence holder and subject to a 0.00 limit, under the new legislation his licence was seized and his right to drive in the ACT was immediately suspended.
Sergeant Rod Anderson would like to remind the public that all police vehicles are RBT units and you never know when you will get caught.
“If you plan on drinking and driving, then plan on getting breath tested. Fortunately for this driver he was detected early by our officers. If he had continued on to Parkes his trip could have had a very different outcome.”
The P-plate driver was arrested and taken to the ACT Regional Watch House where he was charged. He will appear in the ACT Magistrate’s Court at a later date.
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5. But did he have a Rush Hour sticker?
A 34-year-old Melba man was caught driving 83km/h over the speed limit this morning (Thursday 30 December).
Around 11am an unmarked police vehicle was travelling along William Hovell Drive when it was overtaken by a XR6 Falcon sedan. The car was recorded as travelling 173km/h in a 90km/h zone.
The driver was issued with a $1,811 fine and lost 12 demerit points which will result in the loss of his license.
Sergeant Mick Horan would like to remind the public double demerit points are in effect until Monday (3 January) and police are on the road across the ACT enforcing the road rules.
“After all the recent efforts of ACT Policing in relation to road safety it is disappointing to apprehend a motorist travelling 83 km/h over the posted speed limit. Speeding is one of the major contributing factors in serious and fatal collisions in Canberra.”
“ACT Policing wants a fatality free holiday period and incidents like this have the potential to make the holiday period an unhappy time for a family, after losing a loved one due to excessive speeding and dangerous driving.”
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ACT Policing’s Woden Patrol caught two motorcycle riders travelling 50km/h over the speed limit, 20 minutes apart, early this morning (Friday 31 December).
Around 12am police were conducting a mobile patrol when they recorded a 22-year-old man, riding a Honda motorcycle travelling 120km/h in a 70km/h zone.
About 12.20am an unmarked police vehicle was driving along Yarra Glen Road in Deakin when it was overtaken by a 19-year-old woman riding a Suzuki motorcycle. The bike was recorded travelling 130km/h in an 80km/h zone.
Both riders were learners and were issued with a $1,811 fine and lost 12 demerit points which will result in the loss of their licenses.
ACT Policing would like to remind the public that double demerit points are in effect until Monday (3 January).
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