My
name is Constable
Pete BLUNDELL and I
have been a police officer on the mountain since 1999, so many of you
know me already.
I
have collated the crime stats for the North Tamborine Police Division
from January to early May 2015. A number of these reported offences
have been cleared, some not.
As such it is timely to remind members of the public that under certain circumstances some offences could be curtailed if victims could take some precautions. In relation to stolen motor vehicles, please don’t leave car keys in exposed areas even in your own home. It is not just home invaders that will take the keys, we have in the past had victim’s own family members take keys without permission and drive off in the family car. In relation to stolen numbers plates, please have our Police VIP’s, Gary and Marianne attach anti-theft screws to your number plates.
If you are finished with the numbers plates (ie the vehicle is no longer registered) then surrender the number plates to us at the police station or to a Queensland Department of Transport office. Stolen or false number plates are used by criminals to conduct petrol drive-offs without paying for fuel, probably one of the reasons why petrol is so expensive these days.
With respect to break and enter offences, locking doors, windows, gates and activating alarm systems, gives the home owner a fighting chance of not having your home and contents violated by crooks.
Many members of the public speak to us, wanting to report all manner of things. And no matter what it be, a good description of the suspect, the vehicle or events unfolding around the scene can help police paint a better picture of the crime that allegedly occurred.
Any number of times, the first thing I notice about the reporting member of the public is they are holding an expensive, modern mobile phone in their hand. However when I ask, “did you take a picture of the suspect or a photo of the number plate or were you audio recording the conversation,” the usual response of, “Oh, no I didn’t think of that,” is what I get. What we are left with then is the memory of the reportee and at times, that’s not up to scratch.
Please
take the time to become familiar with the workings of your mobile
phone and if it has a camera/video and/or audio recording capability,
be enlightened it can be used as an effective crime fighting tool.
The last comment I would like to offer is that of vehicle parking on and about the Mountain of late and even though it is technically not a NHW matter or concern it would be remiss of me not to mention to members and please pass on to friends and others that local police have issued, absolutely, hundreds of traffic infringement notices for illegal parking type offences this year alone. Special consideration is given to able bodied persons parking in Disabled Zones, with the fine now $227 as opposed to normal parking tickets issued by police which is $45.
Stay
safe.
Constable
Pete BLUNDELL
NHW
Liaison Officer
