Wanted: A security camera image of a couple police want to question over alleged credit card deceptions.
By Erin Pearson
POLICE caught and charged more than 600 burglars as part of a major crackdown in the past year, according to statistics prepared for the Independent.
The statistics showed police caught and processed 617 alleged offenders after receiving 1597 reports of burglaries between October, 2010, and September.
Postcode 3214, covering Corio, Norlane and North Shore, recorded the most burglary reports, 445, and charged 150 alleged offenders.
Postcode 3216, covering Belmont and Freshwater Creek, was second with 436 burglaries and processed 165 alleged offenders.
Geelong Police Acting Local Area Commander Carl Peers said arrests of a number of repeat offenders should help make “significant inroads” in preventing burglaries.
“The public has been great in helping identify people seen acting suspiciously and reporting it to us,” Insp Peers said.
Another set of statistics released on Wednesday showed a 45.5 per cent rise in non-residential burglaries around Geelong, up 305, between October 2010 and September.
Thefts from motor vehicles jumped 32.1 per cent and robberies 20.5 per cent.
Geelong Police Inspector Chris Gawne said extra officers would be stationed across the region to assist with an influx of visitors over summer.
“The Crime Investigation Unit has put together a special taskforce dedicated to investigating all burglaries within the police service area (PSA) and has made a number of significant arrests in recent month,” he said.
The statistics provided to the Independent showed 224 burglary reports across Geelong West, Herne Hill and Manifold Heights. East Geelong, Breakwater and New-comb area recorded the same figure. Geelong, South Geelong and Newtown’s postcode 3220 recorded 268.
The Independent reported in May that police feared resurgence in heroin use had contributed to an “epidemic” of crime in the city.
Cops probe card ‘scam’
A series of credit card deceptions across Geelong has prompted police to appeal for information.
Police believed a man and a woman had used a stolen card six times in suburbs including Belmont, Highton, North Gee-long, Corio, and Geelong West in September.
Police alleged the couple used the card for “several purchases” at a Geelong West bottle shop about 4pm on September 25.
Police described the woman as Caucasian, aged in her 50s and 155cm to 160cm with a thin build and long, straight, grey hair.
She was wearing a white shirt, a black jacket and prescription glasses.
Police described the male as Caucasian, aged in his 50s and 185cm with a solid build.
He was wearing blue jeans, a dark coloured top and prescription glasses.
Police said anyone with any information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppers.com.au.
