Police Beat with Tom Hayes
Appeal for assault witnesses
TRARALGON Police are investigating an assault that is alleged to have occurred at Kmart, Traralgon on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The elderly female victim was assaulted by another female around 11.05am.
If you witnessed this incident, contact Senior Constable Vella at Traralgon Police Station on 5172 2700, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or you can submit an online report at: crimestoppersvic.com.au
Altercation under investigation
POLICE are investigating an incident in Morwell last Saturday (March 15).
It is believed an altercation took place between parties on Aherin Street around 1.30am.
A 29-year-old Morwell man was injured and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Heyfield ram-raid
POLICE are investigating a ram-raid at the Heyfield IGA supermarket on the morning of Friday, March 7.
It is understood a white utility reversed into the front of the supermarket on George St about 5am. No one was inside the store at the time.
Police were told the offender stole cigarettes before fleeing in the vehicle.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or information has been asked to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential report online at: crimestoppersvic.com.au
Student unharmed
POLICE were called after a Traralgon secondary school student was approached by an unknown person on Tuesday, March 11.
The person encouraged the student to get into a vehicle. The student was unharmed and praised for their decisiveness in raising the alarm.
Parents have been urged to speak to their children about personal safety, particularly the importance of not engaging with strangers.
Elderly Foster woman scammed
BASS Coast Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance after a 91-year-old woman was scammed out of more than $130,000 last year.
The woman from Foster received a phone call from a person purporting to be from her bank on September 19, 2024. The scam caller advised the woman that fraudulent charges had been made on her account, before they attended her property to collect her bank card on the same day.
The offender then used the stolen card to purchase gift cards at a number of stores in Airport West, Altona, Bacchus Marsh, Balaclava, Caulfield, Chadstone, Corio, Deer Park, Elsternwick, Essendon, Footscray, Geelong, Maribyrnong, Hoppers Crossing, Malvern, Moonee Ponds, Point Cook, Port Melbourne Spotswood, Sunshine, Werribee, Williamstown, and Yarraville between September 19 and 23.
Investigators believe the offender used the victim’s card over 130 times before it was cancelled.
Police have released images of a man that they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries, with can be viewed at: police.vic.gov.au/elderly-woman-scammed-out-130000-foster
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit: crimestoppersvic.com.au
Busy Operation Arid
VICTORIA Police detected close to 5000 traffic offences during a road safety blitz over the Labour Day long weekend.
Operation Arid saw police target high-risk driving behaviour across the state over four days, in an effort to drive down road trauma.
Speeding offences made up almost half of all detections, with 75 per cent of drivers caught speeding between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.
Police conducted 69,166 preliminary breath tests, with one in every 455 motorists (around 150 total motorists) caught drink driving. A further 197 drivers returned a positive roadside drug test, from the 4266 tests conducted.
More than 300 drivers who shouldn’t have been on the road because they were unlicenced, disqualified, or suspended were caught during the operation.
Police also issued 227 infringements to motorists for disobeying traffic signs or signals, 145 for mobile offences, and 99 for seatbelt noncompliance.
In the Latrobe Valley, there was 36 speeding offences, five unregistered vehicles, four unlicenced drivers, three drink drivers, two drug drivers, two disqualified drivers, two impoundments, and one driver disobeying signs/signals.
