How stolen and torched cars present fearful new bushfire risk

THERE have been more cars stolen and torched across Bass Coast and South Gippsland in recent days.

In the latest incident of a car being dumped and burnt out, at Leongatha North on Tuesday morning, October 13, local police and the Wonthaggi owners of a late model Subaru Impreza, stolen from the Powlett Ridge Estate in the early hours of Monday morning, believe it may be the same car.

But as harrowing as having your car stolen in the dead of night must be, and as problematic as it is for police, emergency services and the local shires who have to investigate and clean up afterwards, an even more worrying risk has been highlighted by Leongatha Fire Brigade volunteers who attended the scene of the burnt-out car at Leongatha North.

They posted the following message on social media:

“Just after 8am today we were paged to a vehicle shouldering at Leongatha North. Crews arrived to find the vehicle had basically burnt out and luckily, the green grass prevented the fire from spreading.”

Implicit in those comments is ‘what happens if cars continue to be stolen and torched in rural areas at the height of summer?’

It could be catastrophic.

Numerous damaging bushfires have been started in rural and regional areas by mechanical problems with trucks and machinery, and such things as faulty brake drums on trailers.

How much more dangerous, then, if criminals continue the present run of stolen and burnout cars across Bass Coast and South Gippsland into the summer months?

We’ve already seen that they don’t care what damage is caused to houses and sheds in metro Melbourne, and the threat to residents when cars are set alight in driveways and residential areas.

There could be a far worse outcome at the height of summer in country areas.

Sergeant Don Haw of the Mirboo North Police Station attended the scene at Leongatha North.

“They’d dumped the car at the old Leongatha North School site, near the corner of Leongatha North Road and Spencer’s Road,” said Sergeant Haw.

“It had been thoroughly burnt out, the identifying plates on the engine and doors had all melted and while we did recover a set of rego plates, they didn’t go with the car. They were false plates from Melbourne.

“But you may be right about,” he said about the car being the Subaru Impreza stolen from Wonthaggi.

“Wonthaggi CIU are investigating that matter,” he said.

But Sergeant Haw supported the concerns of local fire fighters.

“We’ve got an arrangement with the local shires, that dumped cars are towed away a lot more quickly during the summer months because of the risk they might be tampered with.

“But, definitely, burning stolen cars in rural areas during the summer presents a very serious risk of bushfire,” he said.

It has been reported that the Wonthaggi owner of the dark blue Impreza hatch, registration ALP-952, stolen from the Powlett Ridge Estate in Wonthaggi at 3am last Monday morning, October 12, has been in contact with police and believes the car torched at Leongatha North is hers.

More cars stolen

It’s not the only car stolen in recent days.

• A Landcruiser was stolen from Kilcunda overnight on Tuesday night, with a message on social media noting that a box of belongings from the car had been found on Heslops Road.
• A dark navy blue coloured Toyota Landcruiser 1992 wagon rego DAZ-GXL stolen from corner McCartin Street and Worthy Street Leongatha around 5pm Monday, October 12 with 10 x 7 galvanised cage trailer, and yellow commercial Cub Cadet ride-on mower and a red Honda hand mower on board (see details below).

Police media statement

Police Media provided the following report about the Leongatha North incident:

Police are investigating a car fire in Leongatha North on October 13.

Emergence services were called to reports of the burnt-out vehicle on Spencers Road about 8.15am.

The Subaru was bearing stolen plates at the time of the fire.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au HERE

From Acting Inspector Jason Hullick

Acting Inspector Jason Hullick provided this update in recent days.

“Good day, everybody. Jason Hullick here, Acting Inspector for the Bass Coast Local Area Command. Just wanted to have a quick chat to the community. I know most of you would be aware that in the last four to six weeks, we've had a significant increase in our vehicle-related crime.

“Vehicles being stolen, vehicles being broken into, obviously, personal belongings taken from those vehicles, and a lot of those vehicles, some of them have ended up being burnt out in areas stretching from here into the metro area.

“I just wanted to let you know that the police, local police, have been working really hard over recent times, and we've managed to arrest a number of those offenders and bring them before the courts. And they are currently on remand in prison.

“There's also a couple of other persons of interest that we're attempting to locate at the moment, who hopefully we will have within our custody very shortly.

“It's also worth mentioning that we've recently executed a number of search warrants. One in particular in Korumburra this week, where we managed to recover a number of stolen vehicles, stolen trailers, and also a tractor, believe it or not.

“And that search warrant and the other ones we've done couldn't have happened without the information flow that we're getting from our community at the moment.

“So, we really do appreciate that and encourage you all to supply the information.

“It's interesting that the most significant piece of information could be the actual part of the puzzle that we're waiting on to put it all together. So, whatever you think it might not be important, please report it to Crime Stoppers. Sometimes these things are difficult to investigate, and we can't do our job as well as we do without the information and the cooperation of the community.

“So, we'll keep you updated as best we can, but just rest assured, we are doing our bit to bring these people before the courts. Thank you.”

Police want this man

In recent days, police have also appealed for assistance to help locate Dustin Worthy who they say has an outstanding warrant for a series of thefts of motor vehicles, criminal damage by fire and thefts.

He is a 21-year-old male from Wonthaggi who is known to frequent Bass Coast, South Gippsland, Baw Baw and Latrobe areas.

Anyone with information on Worthy’s whereabouts is urged to contact Wonthaggi Police on 56714100 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000or submit a confidential report online at Crime Stoppers Victoria HERE

Leongatha car, trailer, mowers stolen

A Leongatha resident posted the following message on Facebook after her husband’s car, trailer and lawnmowers were stolen.

“Hi everyone, my husband’s car and trailer got stolen today at approximately 5pm on Monday the 12th of October from near the corner of Worthy Street and McCartin Street in Leongatha. The vehicle is a dark navy blue coloured Toyota Landcruiser 1992, 80-series wagon. Personal registration plates: DAZ GXL

“It was sighted at approximately 5:20pm by a number of locals heading towards Warragul.

“The trailer is a 10 x 7 galvanised cage trailer. It had a yellow commercial Cub Cadet ride on mower on board and a red Honda hand mower.

“If anyone has any information please call the Police with details.

“His wallet, phone and ID and bank cards were in the vehicle as well.

“Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

“The vehicle was my husband’s pride and joy and has owned it for over 22 years since February 2004.”

900 key cloning devices seized

Victoria Police have published details about the seizure of more than 900 key cloning devices from car thieves across the state in the past year which gives you an indication of the scale of the problem.

As well as seizing the devices, police have proactively mailed safety advice to owners whose vehicles are at particular risk.

Police intelligence reveals almost half (43 per cent) of these devices were seized by police at search warrants and during intercepts of suspicious vehicles in the North West Metro Region.

The main areas included the Melton, Whittlesea and Hume PSAs.

The remainder of the devices were seized in the Southern Metro Region (23 per cent), followed by the Eastern region (21 per cent) and the Western Region (11 per cent).

Police estimate more than 10,000 vehicles are stolen using these key cloning devices each year – equating to 30 cars being taken in this way every day across the state.

Thieves are using the mimicking and cloning technology to override car security systems, with popular makes and models with push start ignitions of main target.

Toyota Corollas, Toyota Landcruisers, Holden Commodores, Hiluxs, Rav 4s and Subaru Imprezas are among the most targeted vehicles by car thieves.

Victoria Police is continuing to work hard to track down car thieves and make arrests, with targeted proactive patrols in hotspots including residential streets and train stations.

Police are proactively letter dropping and talking to car owners once they park their vehicle to provide them with car theft safety advice.

Last week, Transit police and PSOs spoke to car owners in and around Ringwood train station to ensure their cars were locked and windows secure, handing out dozens of pamphlets with self-guarding tips.

During the patrol, members checked the door handles and windows of various cars for security gaps or if there were any valuable items left visible.

The registration details of vehicles that were identified as high risk – such as those that weren’t locked or models including the Toyotas and Subarus with push start ignitions – were logged by police and PSOs for follow up pamphlets to be mailed to their home address.

The police advice to car owners includes installing an on-board diagnostic port lock which prevent offenders connecting a reprogramming device to a vehicle.

These locks are affordable and can be self-installed.

Police also recommend using a steering wheel lock and parking your vehicle off the street and in a garage if possible.

Vehicles should always be locked, even if parked at home, and never left running unattended.

Police have recovered around 80 per cent of cars stolen in the past year.

People can now check whether a car is stolen using the online tool on the Victoria Police website, which was recently launched to assist police in recovering stolen vehicles sooner.

The public can enter the registration, make and model of a suspect vehicle to check if it is listed as stolen and then report its location to police.

Stolen vehicles should be reported to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

If you require immediate police assistance always phone Triple Zero (000).

Quotes attributable to Vehicle Crime Squad Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald:

“Car theft remains a significant concern for both police and our community – which is why we continue to relentlessly target and arrest offenders.

“In the past year police have seized more than 900 key cloning devices from car thieves across the state – a stark reminder that offenders are turning to this technology to commit their offending.

“Car thieves only need one opportunity. We’re urging motorists to take away that opportunity and protect their vehicle.

“Simple steps can make a real difference. Installing an on-board diagnostic port lock and using a steering wheel lock can add an extra layer of protection and always make sure your vehicle is locked, even when home.”

Quotes attributable to Transit East Local Area Commander Inspector Jacinta Hanscomb:

“We know how much of an inconvenience car theft is. Every day when we patrol the local area, we notice cars that are of higher risk for thieves.

“That’s why we are out in force conducting proactive patrols in known hotspots, speaking directly with car owners and letter-dropping with practical advice to help keep their vehicles safe.

“During these patrols, we are also checking vehicles for common security vulnerabilities, including unlocked doors and open windows, while reminding motorists not to leave valuables in plain sight.”