Sheryl Lowe, Naracoorte Community News
Police are seeking assistance from the community to be on the look-out for suspicious activities. With the price of fuel going up, there has been an increase in fuel theft in the South East particularly in centre pivots in the irrigation system.
Snr Sgt Rick Errington from the Millicent Police Station said, “If you look through the farming land you’ll see those big sprinkler systems on wheels, they are often fuelled by diesel and people are targeting them specifically because they’re in fairly remote areas.”
“If you have one of those or if you’re driving around through the area, particularly at night time, and see activity near one of those, call the police and take note of what is going on, the make of vehicle and where you are.”
Police are increasing their night time patrols in the Furner and Clay Wells area so don’t think the police are not on duty, “they will be,” he said.
Snr Sgt Errington encouraged people to ring the police immediately so patrols have a chance of intercepting the thieves straight away.
He also had a message for people owning firearms following a recent break-in and theft of a firearm in the region.
“If you own firearms, please stop and think, are they safe? Is the key somewhere not near the firearms. Often people get a bit lazy or they’ll hang a key within a couple of metres from the cabinet itself. The key needs to be secured with you. At all times. Don’t give out the location to family or friends or other people. Keep the key on your keyring in your pocket. I did go to a house a few weeks ago and saw a firearm sitting in the middle of a shed not secured. It is frustrating.”
“In recent days industrial batteries were stolen in the Wattle Range area. And a red coloured trailer with a water tank on the back. 800 litres of diesel were also stolen from the pine plantation so we assume they’ll empty the water out and the diesel they’ve taken was put in it. We’ve got some lines of inquiry with that one but we’re asking anybody who saw a suspicious activity Monday morning (May 2nd) in the early hours around the Clay Wells Road in the Wattle Range area.”
If you have any information, please call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or the Millicent Police Station 8733 3622. Download the app ‘what3words’ on your phone and you’ll get an immediate location to pass on to the police.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
