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Source: ACT Police

A 31-year-old man from Greenleigh, NSW will face Queanbeyan Magistrates Court today after being arrested and charged as part of ACT Policing’s Operation Athos.

In August 2023, a joint investigation with Victoria Police was commenced to identify and disrupt a criminal group allegedly distributing significant quantities of controlled and prescription drugs across Australia.

Three men were arrested in the ACT as part of this investigation in December, 2023.

Further investigations identified the alleged involvement of another man, the 31-year-old from Greenleigh.

On 18 April 2024, ACT Policing executed a search warrant with NSW Police Force (NSWPF) executing a crime scene warrant jointly at the Greenleigh residence, where the 31-year-old man was arrested, while ACT Policing members also conducted further warrant activity at a linked residence in Conder, ACT.

As a result of the Greenleigh warrant, police located and seized:

Approximately 450 grams of cocaine
Approximately 160 grams methamphetamine
Approximately 145 grams MDMA
Approximately 200ml suspected to be GHB
Approximately 20 vials of steroids
A small amount of Xanax
A large quantity of commercial fireworks
Approximately $8,150 in cash
Mobile phones and laptop computers

The 31-year-old man was conveyed to Queanbeyan Police Station, where he was charged by NSWPF Regional Enforcement Squad with drug offences and faced court in Queanbeyan today (Friday, 19 April 2024).

Investigations into these matters remain ongoing.

Anyone who has information about the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the ACT is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via theCrime Stoppers ACT website.Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

A 51-year-old man has been charged with multiple sexual offences and will face court today.

Earlier this year police received reports relating to alleged historical sexual offending against two children.

Following an investigation, the 51-year-old man was arrested yesterday (Wednesday, 17 April 2024).

He is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Thursday, 18 April 2024) charged with nine offences including acts of indecency against a child under 10, sexual intercourse without consent and acts of indecency.

ACT Policing reminds victims of sexual assault that it’s never too late to report. Many people who experience sexual assault don’t tell anyone at first and reporting sexual assault years later is quite common.

It doesn’t matter whether the offence occurred months, years or decades ago. ACT Policing will investigate these matters.

You can report in person at any of the ACT’s five police stations or over the phone by calling Police Assistance on 131 444. You can also report historical sexual offence matters online.

Source: ACT Police

Updated at 5pm Thursday, 18 April 2024.

The man we were seeking earlier today has been arrested. Thank you for your assistance.

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ACT Policing is seeking community assistance to locate 38-year-old man Jordan Westin.

Mr Westin is wanted in relation to outstanding family violence matters, breach of bail, and failing to appear in court.

Mr Westin is believed to be travelling in company of his 23-year-old female partner and their infant child.

ACT Policing is urging Mr Westin to surrender himself to the nearest police station or to contact police and provide his location.

Should Mr Westin be sighted, he should not be approached and police should be contacted immediately.

If any member of the public has any information about his whereabouts, they are urged to contact police on 131 444. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

A 50-year-old Gordon woman will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Wednesday, 17 April 2024) following several thefts targeting predominantly elderly shoppers between February and April this year.

Police allege the woman waited until her victims were distracted while shopping at supermarkets in the Tuggeranong region before stealing their wallets or handbags.

It is also alleged the woman used stolen credit and debit cards to make hundreds of dollars worth of fraudulent transactions.

After reviewing CCTV footage, police linked the 50-year-old woman to the thefts and she was arrested at her residence about 11am yesterday (16 April 2024).

She has been charged with nine offences, including seven counts of minor theft, as well as single counts of theft and obtaining property by deception.

Source: ACT Police

A 38-year-old man will face the ACT Magistrate’s Court today, charged with several offences including aggravated assault and making threats to kill following a family violence incident in Gilmore yesterday.

About 4pm yesterday afternoon (Friday, 12 April 2024), police received several triple zero calls alleging a fight had broken out at a nearby home and a man armed with an axe was injuring people and damaging property.

Officers quickly attended the scene and secured the weapon.

After speaking with witnesses, the 38-year-old man was arrested before being transported to hospital with minor injuries.

He has been charged with two counts of aggravated property damage, aggravated assault, possessing an offensive weapon and aggravated threat to kill a person.

Source: ACT Police

The ACT Policing crime statistics for the first quarter of 2024 have shown a significant drop in some robbery and burglary offences.

Across the first quarter of 2024 (January-March), instances of armed robbery fell 32 per cent when compared with the previous quarter, with no armed robberies seen in either the Belconnen or Woden patrol zones in this period.

January-March 2024 also saw a 26 per cent drop in shop burglaries across the territory, with a 73 per cent reduction in the Gungahlin patrol zone (three offences compared to 11) and a 79 per cent drop in Woden zone (three offences compared to 14).

However, unfortunately certain crime types saw an increase in early 2024.

Reported instances of motor vehicle theft increased 27 per cent when compared with the final quarter of 2023 (304 offences compared to 240), as did instances of unarmed robbery (28 offences compared to 22).

Domestic burglaries also saw a 14 per cent increase – 246 offences, up from 215 in the final quarter of 2023, with the largest increases seen in the *inner north (57 offences, up from 39), and the Molonglo region (17 offences, up from four).

ACT Policing Superintendent Rich Breiner said that while it was encouraging to see a drop in certain offences, there are steps members of the community can take to make them a less attractive target to criminals.

“Property crime is often opportunistic in nature, and there are many things we can do to protect ourselves against theft and crime at home, at work and when travelling around town,” Superintendent Breiner said.

“Burglars usually take advantage of doors that are unlocked or windows that have been left open so they can grab what they can and make a quick getaway. However, if a burglar can’t see an easy way in, they often won’t try.

“Our advice is to lock your doors and windows, don’t leave your keys or wallet near the door or where burglars can easily access them, keep valuables secured and away from plain sight, and keep vehicles locked even when garaged.

“It is very difficult to steal many modern vehicles without the keys, so make sure they are kept somewhere safe, as well as ensuring valuables such as phones, handbags, laptops, even registration papers and spare keys aren’t left visible.”

*Inner north includes the suburbs of Acton, Ainslie, Black Mountain, Braddon, Campbell, City, Dickson, Downer, Duntroon, Hackett, Lyneham, Majura, O’Connor, Parkes, Reid, Russell, Turner, and Watson.

Source: ACT Police

A 55-year-old man from Brunswick East, Victoria will face the ACT Magistrates Court this morning after being caught drink driving last night (Thursday, 11 April 2024).

About 10.25pm, police were conducting random breath testing on Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick, when the driver of a grey Subaru Forester was allegedly observed turning away from the testing site.

A short time later, police caused the driver of the Subaru to stop.

The man underwent a roadside breath screening test which was positive for alcohol. He was subsequently transported to City Police Station, where he returned a breath analysis of 0.195 grams of alcohol per 210 L of breath – almost four times the legal limit.

He was issued an immediate suspension notice, suspending his right to drive in the ACT for 90 days, and was charged with driving a motor vehicle with alcohol in breath.

Source: ACT Police

Updated at 8.20am Saturday, 20 April 2024 – About 8.50pm last night, members from Operation TORIC arrested a 19-year-old man, the alleged driver of the yellow Ford Falcon, which was observed committing a number of serious traffic offences on Wednesday, 10 April 2024.

The man will face the ACT Magistrates Court this morning (Saturday, 20 April 2024) charged with reckless driving, two counts of improper use of motor vehicle, two counts of driving as an unaccompanied learner, two counts of not display L plates as required, two counts of display registration plates that were issued for another vehicle, and failure to name the driver of the vehicle.

Thank you for your assistance Canberra.

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ACT Policing is seeking witnesses and dash-cam footage of several alleged instances of reckless driving involving a Ford Falcon.

Between about 1.05pm and 1.45pm yesterday (Wednesday, 10 April 2024), a yellow Ford Falcon bearing ACT registration YBQ58U with a distinctive black bonnet and boot was observed being driven recklessly at high speed, and conducting burnouts.

The Ford was observed being driven through Belconnen, City and Fyshwick, before heading into Queanbeyan, NSW.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the Ford being driven around this time, or who may have dash-cam footage of the vehicle being driven recklessly.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via theCrime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote 7721275. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

A 39-year-old man faced the ACT Magistrates Court today (Thursday, 11 April 2024) charged with attempted murder.

About 9.40pm on Monday, 25 March 2024, police allege the man was involved in a physical altercation with another man at a residence in Turner.

The 39-year-old man allegedly assaulted the other man, before allegedly brandishing a kitchen knife, attempting to stab the other man and threatening to kill him. The 39-year-old fled the scene on foot a short time later.

During the altercation, the victim suffered a stab wound to the hand as he attempted to defend himself, as well as soft tissue injuries to the face and head.

Police commenced an investigation and since that time have made multiple attempts to locate the man.

He was subsequently arrested at a residence in Oaks Estate about 12.20pm yesterday (Wednesday, 10 April 2024).

He has been charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of common assault.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing has released CCTV footage in order to identify a man who committed an aggravated robbery at the Friendly Grocer, Narrabundah yesterday afternoon.

About 3.25pm on Tuesday, 9 April 2024, the man allegedly entered the store in possession of a knife and forcibly removed the cash register from a staff member.

The man then fled the area on foot with a sum of cash and the cash register. No one was physically injured during the robbery.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

Anyone who can assist in identifying the man from the CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number 7720584. Information can be provided anonymously.

Note for journalists: The CCTV footage can be downloaded from Hightail. (This link will expire in seven days.)