On the Beat

Police were bombarded with bottles and other missiles when they went to investigate a disturbance in Goonellabah last Wednesday night. Police received numerous calls between 8.30pm and 11pm about people smashing bottles in Shearman Drive, Goonellabah. They were attacked when they went to investigate and withdrew to strategic positions to assess the situation. After lighting the area, numerous young people fled the scene and the situation diffused without further incident. Investigations are continuing.

Counterfeit notes are still being passed at businesses in the Lismore CBD. A fake $20 note was used in a Molesworth Street business around lunchtime last Wednesday. Police are reminding businesspeople to check larger denomination notes carefully.

A 36-year-old Port Macquarie man has been charged with driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs following at accident on the Pacific Highway near Bagotville Road at around 3am last Thursday. He was driving a Toyota Hilux north, towing a caravan, when he collided with a metal railing.

A 19-year-old Ballina man was arrested after a witness spotted him damaging the plate glass window of a Ballina business around 2.50am on Sunday. Investigations are continuing.

Kyogle police are investigating the theft of a ride on mower, push mower and whipper snipper, valued at over $5000, from a car port of a Summerland Way Wiangaree property sometime before 9.20am on Sunday.

An elderly couple had a lucky escape from a house fire while they were minding their grandchildren on Monday night. The house in Charlton Avenue, Lismore, was well alight when police and fire crews were called at around 12.55am. Everyone escaped safely, but the house was totally destroyed.

A brand new brush cutter was stolen from a vehicle in Rifle Range Road, Wollongbar, between 3pm Sunday and 8am Monday. Any information to Alstonville Police on 6628 0244.

A 40-year-old woman and her 17-year-old daughter narrowly escaped injury when the gas bottle in their Nissan van exploded recently. They'd just refuelled the van and were inside a service station at Kyogle when the 4.5kg cylinder exploded, causing extensive damage and starting a fire that was doused by service station staff. The van's roof was partially blown off, the windscreen and other windows blown out and the inside contents were partially destroyed. An inspection revealed that a copper gas line running from the fridge to the gas bottle had ruptured, possibly causing the explosion.

A large, blue ceramic garden pot was stolen from the front lawn of property in Milton Street, Lismore Heights, between 9.30pm Monday and 5.45am Tuesday. Any information to Lismore Police on 6623 1599.

Police are again reminding motorists not to leave valuables in their vehicles following a recent spate of thefts: CDs and fishing tackle were stolen from a car parked in Laurel Avenue, Lismore, between 10pm Monday and 8.30am Tuesday, while a wallet and mobile phone were stolen from a car parked in Brewster Street, Lismore, between 4pm and 9.30pm Tuesday.

A 1981 blue Toyota sedan parked near the intersection of Dawson and Magellan streets, Lismore, was stolen between 1pm and 4.50pm on Tuesday. The registration is RGM-256. If sighted, do not approach the car and contact Police immediately on 6623 1599.

Thieves ransacked a boat parked in a shed on Pimlico Road, Pimlico, between 6.15am and 3.35pm on Tuesday. Fishing gear, a two-way radio, GPS, fish finder, flares and an EPIRB were taken, along with power tools. Any information to Ballina Police on 6681 8699.