Dodgy tradesmen, known as travelling con men, have been reported in Gippsland offering work such as roofing and asphalting at a discounted rate.
In one case a man knocked on the door of a south Gippsland house and offered bitumen work at a “considerably cheaper price” compared to other trades people.
Latrobe Inspector Dean Thomas said travelling con men often targeted the elderly and most vulnerable and would often request a deposit up front before failing to return to complete the job.
“Generally speaking the type of work these people try to offer are roofing services and bitumen work around the home,” Inspector Thomas said.
“In this instance, the occupant of the house did not accept the offer for the service offered and that person walked off to a white coloured ute where there was believed to be another man in the car.”
The man was described as Caucasian in appearance, small in stature and spoke with an English accent.
“If people are approached by someone offering this type of work they should always ask for identification and proof of their qualification,” Inspector Thomas said.
“Never make a decision on the spot and if you suspect these people to be travelling con men, you should attempt to obtain as much information as possible to assist with their identification.”
To report suspected travelling con men, phone the National Travelling Con Men Hotline on 1300 133 408 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or your local police station. Further information is available at consumer.vic.gov.au.
Driver on the run
A house has been extensively damaged after a stolen car was driven through the front room of a house on Moore Street, Moe on Monday at about 5.30am.
Police are yet to arrest the driver after the white Toyota was stolen from a residential property on Gladstone Street shortly before the collision.
The car was driven along Della Torre Road where it took out a give way sign before mounting the kerb and crossing Moore Street, narrowly missing a tree before colliding with the front porch of the weatherboard house, police said.
Moe Leading Senior Constable Lauren Bowman said a child, one of four children in the house, did not sustain any serious injuries but was woken by plaster falling on his head.
“The mother was asleep in the other front room and [felt] she was spared more damage to her house and her own safety because it collided into the brick post,” she said.
The front windscreen of the car had “clear impact from the driver’s head”, according to police, who have been unable to track the driver after he fled on foot.
“He would have a pretty sore head,” Leading Senior Constable Bowman said.
Anyone with information in relation to the incident is asked to phone Moe Police Station on 5128 1100 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Pedestrian killed in Traralgon accident
An 83-year-old man was killed on Monday after he was struck by a ute while attempting to cross Breed Street, Traralgon near Woolworths.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the man, who died at the scene, was struck by a south-bound ute just before 7am.
The driver of the ute, a man aged in his 20s, was not injured and is assisting police with their investigation.
Anyone with information about the collision is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Drivers targeted
Thirty-four drivers were caught drug driving in the Latrobe Valley at the weekend as part of a three-day operation by State Highway Patrol officers.
Operation Fahrenheit focused on a number of the Latrobe Valley’s towns, targeting impaired and speeding drivers.
Two drivers were nabbed for drink driving, eight people were fined for driving while disqualified or suspended and three people were charged with criminal offences.
More than 150 infringement notices were issued during the blitz, including eight for people not wearing seatbelts.
Pizza shop fire
Detectives are investigating a fire at a former pizza shop in Glengarry.
Fire fighters were called to the Main Street property shortly after 5.30am yesterday to reports of a fire in the front section of the store.
Police are yet to determine how the blaze started but are treating it as suspicious.
Anyone with information is asked to phone Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
