On the Beat

Local Police News

Police are warning boat owners to take extra care following a recent series of break-ins and thefts from boats. Early last week, a catamaran from the dry area at Ballina Boat Harbour was broken into and assorted hand tools, a radio, aerial, flares, assorted safety gear, fuel in fuel tank, in total valued at $1500, were stolen.

On Sunday, thieves broke into a houseboat moored on the Richmond River at Woodburn and stole goods worth more than $350, including a stainless steel sand anchor, a 50m rope, a battery and a box of assorted tools, as well as throwing mud about the vessel. Anyone with information should phone Woodburn Police on 6682 2444.

Last Wednesday, Ballina police found a sailboat on a sandbar in the Richmond River, 300m north of Richmond River Sailing Club. The wooden boat, valued at around $2000, had two sails and a boom but no mast. The owner should contact police to reclaim it.

This Wednesday, around 1.10am, thieves tried to steal a Haines Signature Boat, valued at $50,000 from a Ballina canal. The 60 year-old victim told police he was asleep in his bedroom at Dolphin Drive, West Ballina when he was woken by a noise coming from the pontoon where his boat was stored. He saw two men in what he believed to be an inflatable dingy-type boat with a high-speed outboard trying to break in to his boat. After being discovered, the men fled out of the canal in their dingy. Anyone with information should phone Ballina Police on 6681 8699.

A 28-year-old female has been charged with malicious damage to appear in Lismore Local Court on August 9 following an incident at a Lismore CBD motel last Wednesday where she allegedly smashed a window and abused staff.

A 31-year-old Lismore man will appear in Lismore Local Court charged with offensive conduct after he was caught on the CBD safety cameras urinating in Molesworth Street at 3.40am on Sunday.

A 36-year -old man was arrested by police on Sunday night and charged with break and enter and possessing a prohibited drug after witnesses saw him allegedly kicking in the door of a Carrington Street business premises at around 7pm.

A 17-year-old Alstonville woman has died after suffering severe head injuries in a car accident on Sunday. Hannah Loker had her life support system turned off at Lismore Base Hospital on Monday. She was a passenger in a southbound Toyota Corolla sedan that lost control whilst negotiating a sweeping left hand corner in Tanamera Drive, Alstonville, at about 4.50am and collided with a stationary Rodeo utility. The 21-year-old Queensland man driving escaped uninjured, while a 17-year-old Goonellabah man who was also a passenger was treated for minor leg injuries. Officers from the Ballina Crash Investigation Unit are investigating.

A leaf blower was stolen from a box trailer parked in Catherine Crescent, Ballina some time between 1pm and 2:30pm on Monday. Phone Ballina Police on 6681 8699 if you have any information.

A computer was stolen from an office at Lismore TAFE some time between 11.40am and 12.40pm on Monday. There is a possibility the computer was removed in a box. Any information to Lismore Police on 6623 1599.

A 20hp motor and mounting mechanism, f valued at $3000, were stolen from an Auger grain machine on Bean Creek Road, Bonalbo, between 3pm Sunday and 2pm Monday. Police are warning farmers to secure valuable machinery and to mark it for identification, as well as maintaining serial number records.

Four BMW wheels, tyres and wheel covers were stolen from a carport in Laihaina Crescent, Richmond Hill between 4pm Wednesday and 4pm Sunday. Any information to Lismore Police on 6623 1599.

Homes around Elliot Road, Lismore, were blacked out for several hours from 10.45pm on Wednesday when a semi trailer has collided with a power pole.

Thieves ransacked a home in Florence Street, Goonellabah on Tuesday, some time between 7am and 4pm. They stole a small amount of money and a DVD. Any information to Lismore Police on 6623 1599.