Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing’s Operation TORIC has recorded its 400th apprehension as the ongoing taskforce continues to target recidivist offending and dangerous driving in the ACT.

The 400th person apprehended by Operation TORIC was a 35-year-old man from Phillip, who was arrested on Thursday, 25 January 2024 in relation to 37 charges following a prolonged investigation.

On the morning of Thursday, 21 December 2023, two vehicles were allegedly stolen from a residence on Robertson Street, Curtin – a white Hyundai Santa Fe SUV and a silver Nissan Qashqai SUV.

About 7.55pm Friday 22 December, police allegedly observed the Nissan being driven at dangerous speeds southbound on the Tuggeranong Parkway. A short time later, police attempted to speak to the driver near a residence in Kambah, however the vehicle fled the location. Around this time, the Hyundai was also observed near the Kambah residence, however it also fled the location after failing to stop for police.

It is further alleged the Hyundai was involved in a petrol drive off from a Nicholls service station on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.

About 7.30pm on Thursday, 25 January, police again observed the Hyundai near a Kambah residence, with the 35-year-old man arrested at the location a short time later.

He has been charged with 37 offences, including drive stolen motor vehicle (16 charges), drive while suspended (16 charges), minor theft, possession of stolen property, and drug possession.

Since its inception in August 2022, 402 offenders have been apprehended by Operation TORIC, resulting in 1105 charges being laid.

Of those apprehended, 57 were the subject of Good Behaviour Orders, 164 were on bail, 24 were on parole, and 60 were subject to arrest warrants.

Operation TORIC is an ongoing capability within ACT Policing. The team is working more closely with our Proactive Intervention and Disruption Team and professional experts to develop strategies to break the cycle of recidivist behaviour and reoffending.

Police urge anyone who may have information regarding stolen motor vehicles or other offending to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is warning Canberra commuters to be aware of planned protest activity this week that is coinciding with the first sitting of Federal Parliament for 2024.

Tomorrow morning, (Tuesday, 6 February 2024) commuters may be impacted for short periods on Northbourne Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue as protest groups make their way to Parliament House. No planned road closures are in place however there may be traffic disruptions before 10am. Please consider taking an alternate route to your destination if you do not want to be disrupted in your travel.

During the day – protestors will assemble at the Federation Mall at Parliament House. At this stage access to the building and carparks are not expected to be affected.

For the rest of the week ACT Policing is aware that other protest activity is planned to occur near Parliament House. Visitors to the Parliamentary precinct should allow plenty of time to get to their destination and follow any police directions around protest activity.

Commuters are also reminded that significant rainfall is predicted to occur this week. Drivers should take extra care on the roads – especially if near protestors or protest activity.

ACT Policing supports a persons right to peaceful protest. However, where criminal activity occurs, police will not hesitate to act.

Updates will be provided to local media outlets and the Canberra community via police social media channels should traffic disruptions occur.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking assistance from members of the public to identify an offender in relation to acts of indecency committed on the bicycle paths surrounding Yerrabi Ponds, Gungahlin.

About 7pm on Tuesday, 30 January 2024, a man – or possibly a teenage boy – grabbed a woman and committed an act of indecency on the victim before fleeing the area on a black bicycle.

A second incident occurred about 3.45pm on Wednesday, 31 January 2024 with another woman being grabbed in a similar manner near the Yerrabi Ponds bicycle paths.

It is believed the incidents are linked and involve the same offender.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or may have CCTV or mobile phone footage of the incidents on these dates.

Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or on the Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting reference number 7661041. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking to identify a man following an alleged assault that occurred on Bunda Street this morning.

About 1.05am today (Friday, 2 February 2024) police received reports of a person who had been assaulted on Bunda Street, City.

Police will allege the man engaged in a verbal dispute with another person before allegedly assaulting them.

On arrival, police were unable to locate the man, who is believed to have fled the scene towards Petrie Street, City.

Police would urge this man to present himself to the nearest police station.

If you can identify the man, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number 7663135. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is reminding road users about their responsibilities when passing cyclists following an incident on State Circle.

About 9.35am on Tuesday, 19 September 2023, a cyclist was travelling along State Circle when a truck approached from behind and passed the cyclist in close proximity.

Under the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017, motor vehicles passing bicycle riders are required to leave 1 metre between their car and the bicycle if the posted speed limit is up to 60km/h, and 1.5 metres if the posted speed limit is above 60km/h.

If drivers cannot pass a cyclist safely, they should slow down and wait until it is safe to do so, leaving the required distance.

Cyclists are particularly vulnerable on the road due to having limited protection, and are therefore at increased risk in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle.

Drivers are urged to be considerate and vigilant around vulnerable road users. Fines and demerit points may apply for drivers who fail to follow the rules when passing a bicycle.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses and dash-cam footage relating a single-vehicle collision that occurred on Cotter Road near Casaurina Sands last night.

About 9:45pm (Wednesday, 31 January 2024) police and emergency services were called to the collision on Cotter Road where a white Nissan Skyline sedan left the road and struck a tree, causing the engine block to be ejected from the vehicle. The driver was transported to hospital with minor injuries.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dash-cam footage of the Skyline driving on Cotter Road, John Gorton Drive, Molonglo or anywhere in the vicinity prior to the collision at about 9.45pm.

Anyone with information who can assist police are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 7662109.

Source: ACT Police

More than 130 surrendered and seized firearms were destroyed by ACT Policing yesterday (Wednesday, 31 January 2024) as part of the ongoing firearms amnesty and police operations.

The destroyed weapons included handguns, shotguns, rifles and gel blasters.

More than 620 firearms have been surrendered to police since the permanent Firearms Amnesty began on 1 July 2021.

ACT Policing Inspector Dennis Gellatly said unregistered and illegal firearms posed a great threat to the community.

“Weapons such rifles, handguns and gel blasters (which are made to very closely resemble conventional firearms) are illegal to own in the ACT and police continue to seize them,” Inspector Gellatly said.

“Removing these weapons from the community means they can’t be used for criminal activity such as aggravated burglaries or violent assaults.”

“If you have an old, unwanted or unregistered firearm then please do the right thing, call the AFP’s Firearms Registry and arrange for those guns to be disposed of in a safe way.”

The National Firearms Amnesty is a permanent initiative by the Federal Government, Crime Stoppers and local police. The amnesty aims to remove unwanted, unregistered or illicit firearms from the community.

ACT Policing is also urging anyone with information about illegal firearms to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.

People wanting to surrender their firearms or firearm-related items, can do so by calling the ACT Firearms Registry on (02) 5126 9076 or actfirearmsregistry@afp.gov.au.

More information about the National Firearms Amnesty is available from the Crime Stoppers website.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses or dash-cam footage of a multi-vehicle collision on the Tuggeranong Parkway on Monday morning (29 January 2024).

About 7.40am, police and emergency services were called to a collision in the northbound lanes of the Tuggeranong Parkway between Hindmarsh Drive and Cotter Road.

Police believe an unsecured load fell from the back of a vehicle which caused several other vehicles to brake suddenly and collide.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash, or who may have dash-cam footage from the Tuggeranong Parkway around the time of the incident.

Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or on the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 7659511. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

A 55-year-old McKellar man has been charged with assaulting a police officer and other offences following an incident in Belconnen last night.

About 8.30pm (Monday, 29 January 2024), police were conducting mobile patrols when they observed a grey BMW hatch driving erratically on Aikman Drive, Belconnen.

When police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, police will allege the driver failed to stop and continued driving for almost one kilometre before pulling over at the intersection of Bednall Court and Vagabond Crescent, McKellar.

Upon exiting the BMW, the McKellar man allegedly approached the police officer in an aggressive manner, grabbing the drivers side door of the police vehicle.

At this time, the man was informed he was under arrest and soon after he allegedly began pushing the officer.

Shortly after, further police attended the scene and the man was subsequently restrained.

The man will face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date charged with failing to stop for police, assaulting a frontline community service provider, and driving under the influence of a drug.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Working smoke alarms have saved the lives of four people who woke to their building engulfed in flames overnight at Lascelles.

CFA was called to the hotel fire on Henty Highway at 2.10am.

Firefighters arrived to the two-storey building around 20m by 50m in size, well alight.

Due to issues with accessing water, several trucks were called to the scene.

CFA Commander Dennis Thomas said the four occupants in the building were able to escape safely.

“Smoke alarms save lives and that’s exactly what’s happened here overnight,” Dennis said.

“We would have arrived to a very different scene if this building didn’t have working smoke alarms.”

Dennis said sadly the historic building was completely destroyed.

“This hotel was the local pub, post office and bottle shop to the town. It was the place locals went for dinner. This is a massive loss for the town and they’re devastated,” he said.

“The four occupants also lost everything.”

The local power company had to turn off the town’s power between 4am and 7am.

Victoria Police also closed the Sunraysia Highway which has since been reopened.

The fire was brought under control at 5.25am.

CFA had 11 vehicles on scene supported by FRV’s ladder platform which assisted greatly with extinguishing the fire.

The cause of the fire is not suspicious and will be investigated today.

Submitted by	CFA Media