1 January 2011

'Tis the Season...............to be $#%@ing Careful!

| The Frots
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Yesterday (December 30, 2010) a neighbour had her house broken into between 11.00am and 6.00pm. The house is located near Jabanunga Street, Ngunnawal. The backdoor was smashed and the offender made off with a Toshiba laptop and other personal jewellery totalling around $4000.

Now, what is interesting in this is that a male was seen in the street around 10.30am. It is a small, quiet street and all the neighbours know each other but this person wasn’t known to those who saw him. The description is as follows:

Male – dark skinned (possibly Indian or South East Asian), short, neat black hair, around 20-25 years old, clean shaven and around 178cms in height with a slight build.

The male, as it turns out, has been seen in the street and the area for the past few months. On this particular occassion he was wearing what appeared to be a fluro vest and carrying a white stick (?) of some sort and wearing a black shoulder back-pack. Previously he was seen wearing a white shirt and black pants, and again a red shirt and black pants. He always appears neat and tidy.

While in the street when he was sighted yesterday he was seen walking into the front yard of some houses. He seemed confident and didn’t display any concerns or regard for the fact that he was seen.

So, if you live in the Ngunnawal area, be on the lookout for this guy. We are!

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Yes, but only one has a best friend with one arm. Harry …

Interesting clothes? You wonder if the jerks who do this type of stuff put much thought into their work clothes Many people see a uniform and a clipboard/parcel/construction paraphernalia? combined with someone who acts like they belong knocking on a customers door. Most will assume so….

I grew up in a house that was never locked.Even when we went to Australia for a few weeks.Foolish not to lock it during vacation? of course. But nobody ever broke in. I know someone who was burgled three times. Can’t imagine. Best not to keep any valuables in your bedroom as its assumed.

Don’t think a note like this (see link) would work in Australia. Makes you wonder if the thieves choose the H&R Block building instead?

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/2010/03/22/now-if-youll-excuse-me-ive-got-call-of-duty-on-pause/

I have to concur with those making the observation that Ngunnawal appears to be popular with these types.. in the 6 years I was there I had a window cracked during an attempted burglary, caught them in the act a week later (trying to prise the front door open with a screwdriver & bar), and had another attempt around a year later, again via the window.

I also agree with the comments on the lack of local skill – not once did they get in.. but the damage is expensive and annoying

“Wow! Some people really missed the sarcasm in cbourke1972?s post.”

++1

Jesus Christ..where is the Xmas spirit. You pagans just don’t get charity!

Wow! Some people really missed the sarcasm in cbourke1972’s post.

JustThinking4:47 pm 02 Jan 11

“””Why havent you mentioned WHY this individual broke in. How do we know that he wasnt one of lifes unfortunates that needed money to feed his family?> Perhaps he was evicted. Perhaps he needed funds for a legal defence. It goes to show us that we should give to those more unfortunate.”””
Geez,
A few years ago when I returned to the Canberra area I was homeless and living in a car on the river bank with 4 children..
Wish I would have known back then it was OK for me to just break into someones house and help myself…sure would have been easier than living off donations of food and continually harrassing shop/business owners until someone gave me a job..

I think we have a duty to keep our eye in our neighbourhoods. Hopefully someone will be keeping their eye out for us!!
There’s nothing wrong with approaching someone who appears to be ‘misplaced’ and asking if they are OK or need help.
Even in businesses they tell you making eye contact and greeting customers is not only good for business but also a deterrent for would be offenders. The belief being they know they have been seen and can be recognised.

Hope the poor people get their stuff back..
Also a reminder to sit down and record all serial numbers etc from household goods, take photo’s of stuff with no serial numbers–and if you are like me–mark items in an inconspicuous place (record and pic)..so that if the items are ever recovered (or sold) you have proof of what is yours…

cbourke1972 said: “Why havent you mentioned WHY this individual broke in. How do we know that he wasnt one of lifes unfortunates that needed money to feed his family?> Perhaps he was evicted. Perhaps he needed funds for a legal defence. It goes to show us that we should give to those more unfortunate”.

So every person that feels they have been hard done by in life has the right to enter someone else’s home uninvited and take whatever they want? I particularly like your suggestion that stealing from others is a valid way to fund a legal defence for previous crimes. It’s only the second day of 2011 but yours would have to be a contender for most ill-though out post of the year.

Back on topic, I live in a small street and all neighbours know each other quite well. None of us have any issue with approaching strangers loitering in the street and politely asking what they are doing here. A few months ago one neighbour even caught three teenage girls in their next door neighbours backyard while they were in the act of trying to open a window. They were chased off and the police called. Sometimes nosy neighbours are the best to have around.

@pptvb I lived in Ngunnawal for 2 years and never had anything stolen. Someone tried to break into our car once. Must have been a rank amateur and extremely desperate: it was a 22 year old Laser and he failed.

So there you are! Isn’t that exciting? But, I will confess, after the third armed holdup in the video store down the road I wasn’t sure how long our streak could last. We left.

Fabforty said:’Clearly he isn’t aware that he needed to introduce himself to The Frots and all his neighbours in order to not be considered the cause of this apparent crime wave’.

Bit over the top don’t you think? If you saw something similar you wouldn’t think anything of it? Glad I’m not your neighbour – my confidence in you looking out for the street would be somewhat diminished!

It is what it is – a stranger was seen in a street shortly before a burglary and in the weeks leading up to it! It is fair to say he isn’t part of the John Guild Bird Watching Society, he isn’t a ‘workman’ nor does the detour he took through the street take him anywhere.

As I said, and as a favour to everyone else – be aware that this may be happening near you. Should you choose to ignore it – then good for you! Not so good for your neighbours – but then that may not be your problem really, eh?

Pommy bastard11:39 am 02 Jan 11

Obviously the product of a broken home with a disturbed upbringing. If we gave him a new govvy flat with a wii and a plasma TV, and more pension and benefits, and encouraged him to attend counseling and get some Reiki, he may find peace with himself.

It’s really all the person who was robbed’s fault as they have conspicuous wealth and deserve to have it redistributed to the more needy.

cbourke1972’s post is probably the most retarded thing I have ever read on the internet.

if i saw someone actually in the act of breaking into a neighbour’s place (or committing any kind of crime), i would absolutely call the cops. but would i call up and squeak to them over the phone about a ‘neat and tidy yet suspicious looking fellow who me and my neighbours don’t know and he is walking in our street!… what’s that? no he’s not actually doing anything wrong but *strident tone* he looks suspicious!!!’ – probably not, i would be loathe to waste both mine and the police force’s time. and come on, do the police actually show up for such a sighting?? if they do, this is good news and i will become a mrs mangle as well.

Lol Cbourke1972, after I catch him breaking into my house he can break into your house to pay for his medical bills.

How about you post your address so that thieves don’t waste their time robbing those who don’t appreciate them.

Holditz, this guy has not “been seen in the vicinity of several robberies”. Did you even read the article ? There has been ONE burglary and all this bloke has done is be seen in this street (looking neat and tidy)over the past few months.

Clearly he isn’t aware that he needed to introduce himself to The Frots and all his neighbours in order to not be considered the cause of this apparent crime wave.

“Secondly how dare you racial profile this person”

Grow the f up. He was describing him. His ‘race’ is not mentioned, unless there’s an undiscovered racial group known as possibly Indian or South-East asian.

Have a cup of your lentil tea and return back to your life of irrelevance. How better would you have described the man.

Barack Obama is African-American. Jackie Chan is Asian. Sue me princess

Cbourke1972 – You sound like a Canberra judge.

This person may very well be an “unfortunate” – but breaking into houses, damaging people’s lives and robbing them of their hard-earned goods is a booming (tax-free) business run by “unfortunates” who don’t give a crap about anyone but themselves.

I thought the profile given by the frots was pretty clear. If we want to be completely PC every description given would be: a person of interest was seen – and that isn’t much help to anyone except the offender.

Secondly how dare you racial profile this person. So what if he is dark skinned. Why did you feel the need to state this?

You have to be kidding me don’t you? If he was white – I’d say he was white! Call it as it is – if it has a fluffy bum, waddles and goes quack, we’d usually say it’s a duck……….and not a stranged,billed creature with a large furry ass!

Thanks to the others who have said something constructive – it wasn’t my property but a friend of ours. And yes, she is devestated. The rest of us are angry.

I agree with Holditz – that’s exactly what Neighbourhood watch is all about! That’s what we intend to do.

TIG3R – the street is up near the Horse Park Drive end. Hope this helps.

The tone of cbourke1972’s post suggests he could be said offender. That Freudian slip was dee-lish.

Where abouts is the quiet street on jabanunga ? I usually walk my dog at night there but I dont think ive seen this bloke before. I have tho seen some people of that sort of description but theres heaps.

You gotta be careful in Ngunnawal. I’ve had things stolen out of my car. Another time i left the car unlocked whilst moving groceries into the house and someone got in looked for sunnies and other valuable items and knicked off with my ashtray expecting to be loose change. Another two cars were hit in my complex within 30 minutes. Also my neighbour has had her rose heads cut, my niece’s scooter was stolen, my niece’s doll was vanadalised and turned into some crazy voodoo bondage tramp and left there for us to see.

I sincerely hope you are able to get your goods back and the guy gets nabbed. Even though the people of the household are ok, you still feel quite violated.

cbourke1972 said: “Firstly I am offender by this article.”

Well shit mate, that’s pretty damn brave of you, admitting to being the offender of this article. If I commited this crime I don’t think I’d be brave enough to admit it in this forum. But well, good on ya for being honest and awning up online. Now, if you just wander into civic and look for a building with the word “Police” on it and tell them what you’ve told us. They’ll treat you real nice and even arrange to give you three free meals a day plus plenty of free accomodation out at Hume. 😉

Firstly I am offender by this article.
Why havent you mentioned WHY this individual broke in. How do we know that he wasnt one of lifes unfortunates that needed money to feed his family?> Perhaps he was evicted. Perhaps he needed funds for a legal defence. It goes to show us that we should give to those more unfortunate.

Secondly how dare you racial profile this person. So what if he is dark skinned. Why did you feel the need to state this?.

I’m interested to know what are you plannng to do if you see him? I appreciate you have your suspicions and they may be warranted but without actual proof, there’s not much you can do.

What do you think Neighbourhood Watch is? It’s local people watching for things out of the ordinary. Granted had there been no house break-ins this person could be purely innocent. As he has been seen in the vicinity of several robberies, it is worthwhile keeping an eye out for this guy, calling the police, and keeping an eye on him surreptitiously. If nothing happens, so much the better. But if this guy is up to no good, it’s too late when a house has been broken into and contents rifled through.

perhaps he is the guy who reads the meter – they do wear vests and go onto properties

Never met anyone who has lived in Ngunnawal who hasnt had their car/house etc vandalised or broken into…

Yep, we’ve installed a lot of “reactive” alarms in Ngunnawal.
It became the new Florey.

Yes, fluro vest and white cane does tell you something – but it was apparently a bit more subtle than that. As for what we plan to do, the first thing will be to approach him if we see him. Everyone knows everyone in the street so it would not be unusual to ask if people are looking for someone. Also, common sense tells you when something isn’t ‘quite right’ so we’ll play it from there.

He will either come back to the same street, or choose another close by. Either way he won’t stop until he gets caught.

vg, i didn’t say or suggest cowering and hiding at all. i was asking a genuine question about the intention of watching out for this guy, who by the way has not actually been seen doing anything illegal. recently i was walking through my complex and there was a guy wandering along ahead of me kind of looking around, he looked completely unfamiliar straight away but hey i figured he could well be visiting someone who lived near me – but after he realised i was walking behind him he jogged over to the boundary fence and jumped over it (it has a gate with a security lock). so it was pretty suspicious all round i thought, but when i thought about whether there was anything i could do about it – i figured he wasn’t technically doing anything wrong. even if i saw him again in the complex what the hell am i going to do – you’re really suggesting to go up and ask him what he’s doing?? what’s that going to do? he’s already going to know i’ve clocked him – and he probably doesn’t give a rats.

“Ngunawel!!! ’nuff said.”

Spoken like a true Southside bogan.

Are you blind. White stick……fluro high vis vest. Wondering off course. Next suspect please.

“Ngunawel!!! ’nuff said.”

There’s something incredibly bogan about sledging without being able to spell.

“interested to know what are you iplannng to do if you see him? appreciate you have your suspicions and they may be warranted but without actual proof, there’s not much you can do. it’s not a crime to walk in a public street, even if no one who lives there doesn’t know you, and even if you confronted him being on a front lawn he could say he was approaching a house to ask for directions or spreading the good word.”

Ask him what he’s doing? Walking in and out of people’s front yards perhaps. Or you could cower and hide from him as you suggest, very neighbourly

far_northact2:14 pm 01 Jan 11

Never met anyone who has lived in Ngunnawal who hasnt had their car/house etc vandalised or broken into…

Sounds like an Optus door to door sales person…

interested to know what are you iplannng to do if you see him? appreciate you have your suspicions and they may be warranted but without actual proof, there’s not much you can do. it’s not a crime to walk in a public street, even if no one who lives there doesn’t know you, and even if you confronted him being on a front lawn he could say he was approaching a house to ask for directions or spreading the good word.

Ngunawel!!! ’nuff said.

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