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Source: Tasmania Police

Charges laid over Coles Bay incident

Friday, 17 July 2026 – 1:54 pm.

Three men have today been charged with aggravated assault, burglary and armed robbery charges as police investigations continue into a serious incident at Coles Bay last Saturday.
Detectives from South East CIB, with the assistance of Northern CIB, Southern and Northern Drugs and Firearms units, Taskforce Raven, the Special Operations Group and other specialist resources, arrested the men on Thursday afternoon during targeted operations in Launceston.
The arrests come after the alleged aggravated armed robbery, involving the theft of firearms and a motor vehicle, and the alleged arson of a house at a rural property on Coles Bay Road on Tasmania’s East Coast about 5am on Saturday, 11 July.
Police will allege masked men entered the property, assaulted the sole occupant and forced him to reveal the location of a firearms safe. It is further alleged the homeowner was bound with cable ties, dragged outside, and his house set alight, after which the intruders left the property in a stolen vehicle.
The three men arrested in Launceston were held in custody overnight and are set to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court this afternoon.
A 31-year-old man, of no fixed address, is charged with:• Attempted aggravated burglary• Aggravated burglary• Aggravated armed robbery• Aggravated assault• Arson• Motor vehicle stealing• Breach of Family Violence Order• Drive whilst disqualified
A 31-year-old man from Invermay is charged with:• Attempted aggravated burglary• Aggravated burglary• Aggravated armed robbery• Aggravated assault• Arson• Motor vehicle stealing• Breach of Family Violence Order
A 29-year-old man from Ravenswood is charged with:• Attempted aggravated burglary• Aggravated burglary• Aggravated armed robbery• Aggravated assault• Arson• Motor vehicle stealing
Further, the three men have also been charged over an incident at the same Coles Bay address on June 25.
As investigations continue, police can confirm 15 licensed firearms were stolen from the property, up from nine firearms initially reported.
Detective Inspector David Gill said these firearms have yet to be recovered, and he is urging anyone with information to report to police, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania.
“While there has been a pleasing and significant development in this matter with the arrests of three people overnight, it is still a concern for police that firearms stolen from the property remain unaccounted for,” Detective Inspector Gill said.
“Illegal firearms in the community pose a serious threat to public safety and we remain determined, not just as part of this investigation, but in all dealings with criminal groups, to locate and seize unlawful firearms.”
Detective Inspector Gill thanked members of the public who provided information over the past six days.
“Tasmania Police allocated significant resources to the investigation of this serious incident,” he said.
“Also crucial to our investigations has been information received from members of the public, which enabled police to gather intelligence and proceed with those targeted operations over the past 24 hours.”
Detective Inspector Gill said police were conducting further investigations in the state’s north.
A 76-year-old man injured during the incident last Saturday morning remains in Royal Hobart Hospital in a stable condition.
Anyone with information about this incident, including CCTV or dashcam footage of suspicious behaviour or vehicles along Coles Bay Road on the morning of Saturday, 11 July, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you have knowledge of unlawful firearms in the community, report to police on 131 44 or call 000 (triple zero) if it is an emergency.

Source: Government of Western Australia

National Science Week is almost here and City of Wanneroo Libraries are hosting a range of free activities designed to inspire curiosity and a love of discovery.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

NT Police have arrested and charged a 28-year-old male who escaped police custody on Wednesday in Arlparra.

He was arrested without incident yesterday afternoon in Arlparra and has since been charged with Aggravated assault, Engage in conduct that contravenes a DVO and Escape from lawful custody.

He was remanded in custody to appear in court today.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

A 21-year-old male has been arrested and charged following a domestic violence related aggravated assault that occurred in Alice Springs yesterday.

Around 1:50pm, police received reports of an assault occurring in parkland near the intersection of Undoolya Road and Leichhardt Terrace.

It is alleged a 21-year-old male had physically assaulted his partner aged in her 20s, as well as injuring her with both a stick and a rock. The victim was able to get away and police were called.

She was conveyed to hospital by St John Ambulance with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The offender fled the scene prior to police arrival but was arrested a short time later.

Following police investigations, it was established the offender had allegedly physically assaulted the victim multiple times during the day prior to this incident.

The 21-year-old has been charged with Recklessly Endangering Serious Harm and Deprivation of Liberty, with further charges expected to be laid. He will appear in court today.

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to family or domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline 131 114.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

MASPROP Real Estate is facing criminal charges over its handling of bonds, as well as disciplinary action for alleged failures that left renters and rental providers footing the bill for expensive repairs.

Western Region Real Estate Pty Ltd, which trades as MASPROP Real Estate, accepted more than $100,000 in bond money from over 50 renters. But it’s alleged it failed to deposit the money properly with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority, sometimes lodging it up to a year late.  

MASPROP and director Mitre Stojcevski will also appear at VCAT accused of not meeting professional industry standards, including acting in their clients’ best interests.

Consumer Affairs Victoria’s Renting Taskforce began investigating MASPROP after receiving a complaint from a renter trying to recover their bond.

Further investigations uncovered complaints from renters and rental providers about the agency failing to make urgent repairs.

One case involved a renter allegedly forced to cover urgent repair costs after repeated requests went unanswered. Another involved an undisclosed plumbing issue that escalated into a major leak, costing the rental provider more than $4,500.

Director Nicole Rich said Consumer Affairs Victoria would continue to pursue estate agents who failed to meet industry standards.

‘Being a licensed estate agent comes with significant responsibilities. We believe MASPROP and its director have failed to meet these basic duties.

‘It’s unacceptable for agencies to leave renters living in sub-standard conditions, and rental providers out of pocket for poor service,’ Rich said.

‘Our Renting Taskforce will continue to take action against agencies that fail to meet their obligations, and undermine confidence in the market.’

The criminal charges for not lodging bond money will be heard at a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing on 20 August. VCAT’s decision on Consumer Affairs Victoria’s application for disciplinary action is pending.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Eight weeks of targeted policing through Operation Ventura has coincided with reductions across several key crime categories, with the latest crime statistics showing encouraging results in many parts of the Northern Territory.

Since Operation Ventura commenced on 18 May 2026, police have maintained a highly visible presence across the Palmerston Region to deter anti-social behaviour and improve community safety.

During the operation, police:

• Arrested 118 offenders

• Tipped out 2431 litres of alcohol

• Conducted 3896 high-visibility patrols

• Issued 43 infringements

• Seized 25 weapons

• Issued 375 Banned Drinker Orders

The latest crime statistics show a positive trend across many of the offences that impact Territorians, when comparing the 12 months ending May 2026 with the 12 months ending May 2025.

Across the Territory, domestic violence offences have fallen by 13%, assaults are down 10% and sexual assaults have decreased by 12%. House break-ins have reduced by 24%, commercial break-ins are down 29% and motor vehicle theft has fallen by 23%.

The Greater Darwin Region recorded substantial decreases in several offence categories, including a 29% reduction in house break-ins, a 50% reduction in commercial break-ins and a 19% reduction in motor vehicle theft.

Alice Springs also recorded significant improvements, with assaults down 18%, sexual assaults down 21% and motor vehicle theft reduced by 50%.

While the figures are encouraging, police acknowledge there are still areas of concern, with increases in offences including robbery, domestic violence and motor vehicle theft recorded in some locations, including Palmerston, Katherine and Tennant Creek. Police will continue to target these trends through proactive, intelligence-led policing.

Acting Commander Kirsten Engels said the statistics reflected the proactive approach of police officers working across the Territory.

“Operation Ventura was established to provide an intensive response to offending and antisocial behaviour, and over the past eight weeks our officers have increased police visibility and targeted those responsible for crime.

“The latest crime figures are encouraging and show reductions across many of the offences that have the greatest impact on everyday Territorians, particularly break-ins, assaults and motor vehicle theft.

“Importantly, these results are not the end of the work.

“While we welcome these reductions, we know there remain areas where offending has increased, and one victim is one too many. Police will continue to focus our efforts where they are needed most.

“Operation Ventura was always intended to be a short-term surge operation. As it concludes, the Territory Safety Division will continue this important work, maintaining a strong and visible presence in our community and working to prevent crime and improve public safety.”

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Twenty-three CFA members are learning the skills needed to keep Victoria’s firefighting aircraft safe and effective, as the organisation invests in the people behind the state’s aerial firefighting fleet.

The group is taking part in an Air Base Manager and Air Observer course, one of CFA’s key training pathways for members who support aviation operations during the bushfire season.

The course drew strong interest across the organisation, with 120 members applying for the 23 places on offer. 

“It’s a wonderful group,” CFA Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook AFSM said, praising the number of women taking part in the course. Among the instructors is Kelly Krajnc, the organisation’s first female Air Attack Supervisor. 

With the rigorous selection process behind this year’s intake, DCO Cook said the course is designed to build a pipeline of members ready to support aviation activity across the state, reinforcing a system that becomes critical whenever bushfires threaten Victorian communities.

CFA does not operate its own firebombing aircraft – those are flown by contract pilots engaged through private aviation companies – but the organisation plays an essential role in making the aerial firefighting system work. 

CFA provides the command and control structure in the air, air attack supervision, and the ground-based logistics that keep aircraft operating safely and effectively during the fire season.

Source: Tasmania Police

Three in custody over Coles Bay incident

Friday, 17 July 2026 – 8:50 am.

Three men are in custody at the Launceston Remand Centre in relation to an aggravated armed robbery, arson and motor vehicle stealing incident at Coles Bay last Saturday (11 July).
Detectives from South East CIB, with the assistance of Northern CIB, Southern and Northern Drugs and Firearms units, Taskforce Raven, the Special Operations Group and other specialist resources, conducted a targeted operation across Launceston on Thursday afternoon.
This resulted in the arrests of three men, at properties in South Launceston, Prospect and Invermay.
Several residences across Launceston were searched during the operation.
While another item police believe is linked to the Coles Bay address has been located, Detective Inspector David Gill said firearms stolen in the robbery were still to be recovered.
“While it is pleasing we have arrested three people in relation to this serious incident, it is concerning the firearms stolen from the property still remain in our community” Detective Inspector Gill said.
“We are repeating our call for people with knowledge of the location of the firearms to come forward, and if anyone is approached to buy or store firearms on behalf of another person, then they should be contacting police.”
Following their arrests yesterday afternoon, the three men remain in custody.
No charges have been laid at this stage, and investigations are continuing in the north of the state.
A 76-year-old man injured during the incident last Saturday morning remains in Royal Hobart Hospital in a stable condition.
Anyone with information about this incident, including CCTV or dashcam footage of suspicious behaviour or vehicles along Coles Bay Road on the morning of Saturday, 11 July, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you have knowledge of unlawful firearms in the community, report to police on 131 44 or call 000 (triple zero) if it is an emergency.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Photo credit: Michelle Critchley

While the nation reflects on this year’s NAIDOC week theme ’50 Years Deadly’, one CFA space became a meaningful place of connection, where the art of weaving, culture and the quiet power of simply sitting together was shared.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Victorian renters are being reminded they have the right to live in a property with working smoke alarms, following a recent fire where a smoke alarm alerted a passerby while the tenant was away.