On the Beat

Three Lismore youths all aged 17 have been arrested in relation to the robbery and assault of a 20-year-old man at Mortimer Oval on March 20. The young man was allegedly bashed and robbed while his 19-year-old female friend was sexually assaulted on the oval at around 3.45am. The three young people have been charged with various offences including robbery and assault. All three have been bailed to appear in Lismore Children's Court between April 13 and 27. Investigations into the incident are continuing.

Police have charged a 30-year-old Coraki man with possession and cultivation of a prohibited drug after seizing an estimated $144,000 worth of cannabis from a Reardons Lane property at Coraki on Monday afternoon. After executing a search warrant, Police discovered 72 cannabis plants, 195 grams of moist cannabis and a further 20 grams of dried cannabis.

Businesses are once again being advised to secure their safes following the theft of seven different safes in the Northern Rivers in recent weeks. In the latest incident, thieves removed an unsecured safe from a business in Woodburn Street, Evans Head, between 10.30pm Saturday and 4.40am Sunday. The safe contained a considerable amount of cash and personal documents, and is described as homemade and around one metre tall.

"Business houses need to make immediate security measures to secure safes from easy removal. Of the seven safes taken in the last month, not one was secured to the building," said acting crime manager Anne Langford. "Police are offering business houses a free security service to assist them to become a hardened target and reduce the risk. Business owners and managers can contact the Crime Prevention office on 6623 1523."

Police are seeking information following the theft of marine equipment from a Camoola Avenue residence in Ballina between 4.30pm Saturday and 8.30am Sunday. The offender/s forced their way into a rear shed, stealing two fuel tanks, a pair of oars, five life jackets, two fishing rods and a tackle box. Any information to Ballina Police on 6681 8699.

Police will soon be using a new camera between Bexhill and Trinity Catholic College to target speeding. The camera has the ability to work in both directions both day and night. It will be particularly targeting speeding within school zones, which are 40kph zones from 8 to 9.30am and 2.30 to 4pm on school days.

Police have put out a warning to motorists in the Alstonville area following a number of thefts from cars that have been left unlocked. In the latest incident a handbag containing a wallet, mobile phone and cosmetics was stolen from a 1991 Charade parked in Main Street, Alstonville. It had been left in the front seat. Any information to Alstonville Police on 6628 0244.

Businesses are encouraged to be wary of con artists, following an incident at a Ballina business recently. A man on crutches allegedly purchased a considerable amount of electrical tools, paying for them by cheque. The business discovered two days later that the cheque had bounced. Police suggest businesses do thorough ID checks before accepting cheques, and ensure that the ID being presented is valid.

Police charged a 22-year-old Lismore man with drink driving on Saturday night after he drove his 1986 Toyota into a parked car in Dalley Street at around 11.30pm. The man was charged with a mid range PCA of 0.135.

Police are appealing for people to keep an eye out for a 1990 White Nissan with NSW plates WAC 656, which was stolen from a Graeme Street property in Goonellabah between 8am and 2.10pm on Tuesday. Offender/s ransacked the premises and stole various electrical items, before driving away in the vehicle. If sighted, do not approach the vehicle. Contact Lismore Police on 6623 1599.

A 1989 Ford Laser was found alight on Tuntable Creek Road near Nimbin around 3.30am on Wednesday morning, after a neighbour heard a loud explosion. Any information to Nimbin Police on 6689 1244.

Help solve Simone's death

A life sized mannequin depicting deceased German tourist Simone Strobel was set up on the corner of Uralba and Dawson Streets in Lismore last Friday to help generate new leads into her death.

Police are investigating a number of new leads into the death of German tourist Simone Strobel following a public appeal last week. Police placed a life-sized mannequin depicting the 25-year-old on the corner of Dawson and Uralba Streets in Lismore last week in the hope it would jog people's memory and lead to new information about the night she disappeared.

Around 40 people spoke to Police after seeing the mannequin, and Police say they have received some positive leads. They are now hoping other people will come forward.

Police assure members of the public that any information they give about the case will be treated in confidence and they urge people to contact them even if they feel their information is trivial.

Phone Lismore police on 6623 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.