POLICE are hunting for a white Nissan Navara ute that was stolen from a Healesville car yard last week.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said between 3pm on Tuesday 28 July and 8.45am the following day, the ute was stolen from a car yard on Maroondah Highway in Healesville.
Det Sgt Barrow said the yard was closed for business at the time of the theft, and that, when staff returned to the yard, the gates to the yard were on the road.
“It looks like the offenders have broken in, stolen the car and driven through the gates,” he said.
The car, a 2005 model valued at $12,000, had no registration plates on at the time of the theft, but had a distinctive, custom-made steel full length roof rack and steel bullbar.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Bollards go missing
WARBURTON police are searching for three specially made bollards, which were stolen from Thomas Avenue recently.
Senior Constable Tony Pagels told the Mail that three bollards were stolen from Thomas Avenue in Warburton.
The bollards were ornate, steel bollards with internal lights and images of native birds and animals, and were worth $2000 apiece – four were installed, and three of those have been stolen.
“They are so distinctive, someone will see them somewhere and hopefully dob them in,” Sen Const Pagels said.
The bollards, installed in 2010, have a fish, a lyrebird, an owl and a possum on them – though it is not known which three were stolen.
The bollards were concreted into the ground, so removing them would have taken a grinder or other machinery to cut the steel from its ballast.
Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity or who has information on the stolen bollards is asked to call Warburton police on 5966 2006 or to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Theft from vehicles up
DRIVERS are being warned to be wary of their cars after an increase in thefts around the Chirnside Park Shopping Centre car park.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said since 15 July police had reported an increase in theft of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles incidents around the shopping centre.
Det Sgt Barrow asked drivers to be mindful of their cars and to report suspicious activity, such as people loitering around the car park.
“And don’t keep your valuables in your car and lock your cars,” he said.
Tomahawk attack probed
A BORONIA man was taken to hospital after being assaulted with a tomahawk in Lilydale over the weekend.
About 11.30pm on Sunday 2 August, police were called out to an alleged altercation between four men at a Cave Hill Road address in Lilydale.
A 30-year-old Boronia man was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after being hit in the back with a tomahawk.
Police were at the scene of the alleged assault through the morning on Monday 3 August.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said investigations into the matter were ongoing.
