Police Briefs

Search for ute
YARRA Glen police are searching for the driver of a black Holden ute, seen doing burn-outs in Dixons Creek earlier this month.

Police, posting on the Eyewatch Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page said it was believed the burn-outs occurred at the intersection of Melba Highway and Bottings Lane in Dixons Creek at 5.45pm on Sunday, 20 September.

Police believe a black, late-model Holden ute was doing the burn-outs, and are asking for witnesses to contact Yarra Glen Police Sergeant Richard Coulson on 9730 1296.

Crminal damage charge
A YARRA JUNCTION teenager will face court over criminal damage to the Upper Yarra Secondary College building committed earlier this month.

Overnight between Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September, the school campus on Little Yarra Road in Yarra Junction was broken into and roughly $7000 of damage was caused to the building.

Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said that police arrested a 19-year-old Yarra Junction man, charging the teenager with criminal damage.

He was bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 16 February, 2016.

A 16-year-old girl was given a caution in relation to the incident.

Theft of flag
POLICE are calling for information after the Woori Yallock Township Advancement Group (WYTAG) flag was stolen from the WYTAG Reserve earlier this month.

Police, posting on the Eyewatch Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page, said the flag was stolen from the flagpole on Thursday, 16 September, with the flagpole also damaged in the incident.

“This is really disappointing as the Woori Yallock Township Group have worked hard to make this area a nice place for the community,” the post read.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Bird-loving burglar
A BIRD-LOVING thief is being hunted by police after stealing more than 15 birds last week from Lilydale.

Yarra Ranges police officers posting on the Eyewatch Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page said that overnight on Wednesday, 23 September, 15 canaries and an Amazonian Blue Cap Parrot were stolen from Lilydale.

The parrot does not have a name, but is able to say “Hello” and “What do you want?”

“The owners are very upset,” the Facebook post read.

Anyone with information is asked to call Senior Constable Kate Williams on 9739 2404 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Armed with metal pole
POLICE are hunting two men who allegedly robbed a Chirnside Park service station with a metal pole last month.

According to police officers posting on the Eyewatch Yarra Ranges Police Service Area Facebook page, two masked men entered the service station just before 2am on Monday, 10 August.

The men then jumped the counter and demanded cash, threatening an employee with a metal pole.

The pair made off with cash and cigarettes.

Police have described the men as Caucasian, aged in their late-teens to mid-twenties, medium build and between 175cm-185cm tall.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Custom bike goes fast
A CUSTOM motorbike was stolen from a Kilsyth garage over the weekend, and police are appealing for witnesses to try and track down the distinctive bike.

Between 10pm on Sunday 27 September and 5.45am the next day, police believe unknown persons broke into a Kilsyth garage through a door.

Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said the burglars stole a custom-made, imported 2006 Big Dog Mastiff motorbike.

Det Sgt Barrow said the bike was maroon and cherry-black in colour with “a lot of chrome” and tribal artwork on the sides, and is worth about $30,000.

Anyone who saw any suspicious activity at the time of the break-in – or who has spotted the bike – is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.