On the Beat

Man stabbed in Lismore carpark

Detectives are investigating the stabbing of a man during a robbery in a Lismore car park on Sunday night. A 47-year-old victim was walking into the John Crowther car park at around 6pm when a man pushed him into a bin and demanded his wallet. Despite handing it over, he was stabbed twice in his lower back. Police and Ambulance officers found the victim with the knife still in his lumbar. He was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment and is in a stable condition. It is believed he has not suffered any major internal injuries. Police are seeking a man of Aboriginal appearance, aged 25 to 30, 175-180cm tall, with a solid build, short dark and possibly curly hair, and wearing a white basketball type singlet for questioning. Anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident or has information should contact Lismore Police on 6623 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, in response to community concerns following the attack, Police have initiated a plan for high visibility policing between the CBD and Lismore Base Hospital, including increased car and foot patrols.

A cyclist from Macleans Ridge was killed when he was struck by a vehicle on the M4 Motorway in Sydney on Friday morning. Robert Broad, 57, was in the westbound breakdown lane with another cyclist when they were both struck around 8am. Mr Broad died at the scene and the other cyclist, a 56-year-old Londonderry man, was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

Number plates were stolen from several vehicles in Tamar Street and Riverside Drive, Ballina, between 5pm Sunday and 7.30am Monday. Any information to Ballina Police on 6681 8699.

A 20-year-old Lismore man had a lucky escape from serious injury when he lost control of his vehicle on Rous Road, Goonellabah, after dropping a cigarette. The driver was allegedly distracted when his cigarette fell out of his mouth at around 6.45am on Saturday. He was looking down to find it in his lap when the vehicle collided with two metal refuges situated in the middle of the road. The car suffered serious damage, but the driver was unharmed.

An 82-year-old woman had her handbag stolen in Molesworth Street, Lismore, between 8.45am and 10.15am on Sunday while she was at a church service.

Police and SES volunteers are searching rugged bushland in the Border Ranges National Park at Barkers Vale for a paraplegic man who has been missing for four days. The 36-year-old Kingscliff man failed to return home on Saturday night and his Subaru Outback 4WD was found at the bottom of a 10-metre ravine on Tuesday. Police Rescue abseiled down to the vehicle, locating the man's wheelchair inside, but found no trace of the man himself. He is described as having blonde medium length hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with black Indian motif and long black pants. Police are appealing for anyone who might have any information on on his whereabouts to contact Lismore Police on 6623 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.