Residents Against Crimes

IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME DON'T DO THE CRIME

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 Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Out of stock: Pharmacist Graham Stevens will no longer sell cold and flu medications.

A KEWARRA Beach pharmacist says he will stop stocking products with pseudoephedrine in them amid fears of an increasing drug trade in the Far North.

Graham Stevens, who owns Kewarra Beach Pharmacy, has been targeted twice since late December by thieves looking for pseudoephedrine-based medication.

The latest theft, in the early hours of yesterday morning, has left Mr Stevens fearing an increasing drug trade in Cairns and on the Tableland.

Pseudoephedrine is often targeted by those in the drug trade as a core ingredient for making speed.

Mr Stevens said the second break-in had convinced him to stop stocking the products, a decision he said would affect his bottom line.

"Because of this I am going to stop stocking the products. There is nothing else I can do," he said.

Mr Stevens said the thieves left empty handed in yesterday’s break-in, having been unable to find the product they were after and settling for five boxes of cold and flu medication.

Anyone with information on yesterday’s break and enter should contact Cairns police on 4030 7000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

FOUR girls have allegedly carved a swath of trouble through Kewarra Beach, vandalising 16 cars, damaging a house and stealing items from parked vehicles.

Shocked residents were yesterday still cleaning up from the vandalism that happened early on Monday morning in Bronte Close, Etty St, Howie Close, Cooya St and Cable Close.

Cooya St resident Carlo Rosa arrived home from his job in Papua New Guinea on Monday night and spent yesterday morning scrubbing graffiti off his wife’s car.

"They targeted the whole street," Mr Rosa said.

"We just had writing all over the car, on all the panels, the windows.

"It was vulgar language all in thick texta.

"It took me about an hour and a half to get it all off by using metho and with a bit of scrubbing."

Police have arrested a 13-year-old-girl and a 15-year-old-girl in relation to the crimes but said they were still looking for two other girls, aged 13 and 15.

Smithfield CIB detective acting Sgt Josh Riles said police knew the identities of the other girls and were tracking them down.

Sgt Riles said the four girls targeted cars that were left unlocked, reiterating recent police messages to always lock vehicles.

He said he could understand residents’ frustrations.

"It is an inconvenience more than anything and if they didn’t have the cleaning products at home, they would have to drive around with the writing on their cars," he said.

"It would be frustrating, I am sure."

Mr Rosa said his wife was home at the time of the attack but did not hear anything unusual.

He said the vandalism came as a shock to the quiet neighbourhood.

"There were a few break-ins a couple of years ago and the sign on the roundabout sometimes gets graffitied, but it is not a bad area," he said.

A bicycle was also stolen from one of the homes targeted.

Campaign: Sen-Constables Vanessa Lobegeir and Rod Rankin inspect a car in Cairns as part of a crackdown on unlocked vehicles.

MOTORISTS have been warned to lock up or pay up as police mount a campaign to fine those who leave parked cars unlocked, running or with unsupervised children inside.

Fines for leaving a car unlocked can be as much as $2000 and the move to enforce the penalties comes as daring thieves continue to take advantage of lax security by stealing cars and entering homes through unlocked or unsecured doors and windows.

Innisfail district Insp David Tucker said police would start taking the action as an extension of a wide-scale education program.

"Up until now it has been about education. Now we think the best way to educate people is to show them there are
consequences," he said.

"We are not going to be that bloody minded where we will get someone if they are still near their car.

"But if they leave their car running, or pop into a shop, that is when the penalties will apply."

Insp Tucker said the attitude of thieves was made clear last week when a man left his car running to go into a shop and collect a pizza, only to return and find his car stolen.

Police can impose a fine of up to 20 penalty units, or $2000, for the offences but Insp Tucker said it was unlikely the fines would be that high.

"The officers are clearly going to have some discretion," he said.

Leaving children under 16 in the car without an adult would also be targeted.

Cairns Insp Russell Rhodes said frustrated police were sick of seeing poor security lead to theft.

"It is frustrating for police that so many of our recent break and enters and motor vehicle crimes have been opportunistic," he said.

"There is provision for vehicles that are left unsecured for a fine to be issued to the owner.

"We don't want to resort to that, but security does need to be tightened."

Insp Rhodes said it was important the public was made aware of police powers which could be applied under the circumstances.

Last week, The Cairns Post revealed a spate of opportunistic thefts in the southern suburbs of Cairns where criminals were taking advantage of unlocked doors and windows.

Police have since made several arrests in relation to those offences.

BREAKING NEWS: Three boys, aged between 12 and 14, have been charged after an assault on two men in the Cairns CBD last week.

A 14-year-old boy and two 12-year-old boys were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm while in company, after the assault in Sheridan St on Tuesday night. 

It is alleged that two men, aged 17 and 18, were set upon by a large group of youths and received facial injuries as a result.

They will be dealt with under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act. 

Investigations are continuing in relation to the incident. 

• Girls ringleaders of gang
• Pair tell of kiddie gang bashing
• Kiddie gang attacks pair

Read the Cairns Post tomorrow for full details or got the website: http://www.cairns.com.au/

At a coronial review of the police pursuit policy this week, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson revealed his plan to use unmanned surveillance aircraft to identify rogue vehicles.

He said the aircraft would be small enough to hover unseen, only 200m above the road, and could "lock on to cars" that were being driven irresponsibly.

"Technology is moving at a breathtaking pace," Mr Atkinson told the hearing.

He said the aircraft could send images back to police on the ground and were able to be remotely controlled.

"They can operate 24/7 and have recording capabilities. There's a whole range of reasons why that could be the best way to go," he said.

"This is one of the proposals we want to progress."

Unmanned aerial vehicles are already being used by the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan to provide real-time information about terrain and activities in different areas.

The Australian Federal Police are also believed to be trialling the technology for counter-terrorism purposes.

Mr Atkinson conceded any "big brother" concerns would need to be addressed before such technology could be used by Queensland police.

State Coroner Michael Barnes is expected to deliver his findings from the review of the police pursuit policy in the new year.

Changes to the policy at the start of last year excluded police from chasing vehicles for traffic offences and imposed strict criteria on the continuation of pursuits.

Inspector Tony Fleming told the hearing he would be opposed to any "prescriptive" changes - such as introducing a speed limit on pursuits or making school zones off-limits.

"Each case needs to be assessed on its merits," said Insp Fleming, who wrote the policy. "To say absolutely never, ever has a risk attached to it."

The hearing was told an attitudinal survey of police found more than half (59 per cent) wanted a "less restrictive policy in place".

Insp Fleming was also asked about a breakdown of police pursuits in 2008, which found 24 per cent ended in crashes and the same number were non-compliant with the policy.

"Frankly, they just got it wrong," he said.

 Admin says:

Arson attacks fell by 14 per cent and other property damage offences decreased by 78 to 2402.

Cairns district Supt Brent Carter said police had undertaken a roster change in the past year to double the manpower on Fridays – the busiest night for crime in the city.

The district now has 711 officers, an increase of 14.

Supt Carter said police were also engaging more with the community through Crime Stoppers,NeighbourhoodWatch and other local programs.

Fraud offences fell from 650 in 2007-08 to 617 in 2008-09.

Drug offences decreased by 10 per cent, and just six prostitution offences were detected – a 36 per cent drop – while weapon act offences dropped by 22.

CAIRNS has become one of Queensland's most dangerous cities for women, with a rate of rapes in the region more than double the state average.

Just one sexual assault counsellor and four part-time forensic nurses in Cairns case-manage an average of one new rape victim every week.

Police statistics reveal there were 87 rapes or attempted rapes for every 100,000 people in the region in the 2007/08 financial year, up by 20 per cent on the previous year and more than double the state average of 43 for every 100,000 people.

The average in Brisbane is less than 33 cases for every 100,000 people.

Police say the victims span the spectrum of society, from attacks on the elderly in their own homes to tourists walking back to their hotels late at night.

While attacks on tourists by strangers often receive the most publicity because the victims are more likely to report them to police, the majority of attackers are known to their victims, and include bosses, neighbours, friends and former boyfriends. Authorities predict up to 70 per cent of all rapes go unreported.

With the number of sex attacks escalating each year, counsellors say the focus must shift from crisis management to education and prevention.

Cairns Sexual Assault Service co-ordinator Clare Oppy fears young people are growing up without the skills to negotiate sexual situations.

She says boys need to be taught to respect women and learn skills to recognise the meaning of consent before they reach adulthood, when it is often too late to change entrenched sexist attitudes.

"Girls might say something like 'I've got a boyfriend' or 'You're not my type' but to a boy that could still mean she's consenting because she didn't say or scream out the word no," she said.

"The school curriculum is so full of academic subjects that a topic like healthy sexual relationships and how you navigate those complex situations just aren't on the agenda.

"We need our teachers and parents and creche workers to have an ongoing conversation with kids about what a healthy relationship is, what consent is and how to handle and recognise certain situations."

Regional Crime co-ordinator Inspector John Hartwell, who has worked on rape cases in the far north over 15 years, agrees sex education is vital to combating the high rate of offences in the region.

He works with a team of about 20 detectives in Cairns and described rape cases as the most difficult crime to investigate because of the emotional impact on victims.

"We would strongly support any proactive and preventative strategies," he said.

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Teach your children that the police are friendly people and that they can approach them if they feel endangered.

Kids love Police, Ambulance and Fire vehicles so please encourage them to look upon the police as their friends.

Cairns is normally a very friendly city however like most other cities we do have crime where some visitors have been attacked and handbags, mobile phones and money have been stolen.

 HELP KEEP CAIRNS SAFE

Please read the following to maintain your personal security

Avoid walking or riding alone

Walk in well lit & busy areas

Avoid dark parks, vacant land & alleys

Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings

Know where 24 hour police stations, service stations & stores are

Carry a torch at night & ride with a bike light

Scream if you are in trouble

When using Auto Teller Machines ensure you are not being

watched

Avoid carrying large amounts of money

Keep money in your pocket and not in your handbag

Keep your purse or handbag under your arm & in front of your

body so it cannot be easily snatched

Contact the Police immediately if you have be robbed or assaulted

Rules to remember:

(1). Beware of groups of young people as they may cause problems.

(2). In night clubs do not accept drinks from someone you don't know.

(3). Do not accept a lift from someone you don't know.