General News
7 December, 2023
Police arrest one man over recent car thefts, while CFA crews turn out to suspicious fires
In what was indeed a busy few days for local emergency services, the week was marked by two separate fires, an arrest as well as an another incident involving police in the vicinity of Gillies Street. At around 3.30 pm on December 6, Carisbrook...
In what was indeed a busy few days for local emergency services, the week was marked by two separate fires, an arrest as well as an another incident involving police in the vicinity of Gillies Street.
At around 3.30 pm on December 6, Carisbrook, Maryborough and Talbot brigades including crews from Forest Fire Management attended a grassfire at the Carisbrook reservoir.
The fire started on the banks of the reservoir and was burning its way towards the forest area before crews were able to contain its spread.
While firefighters were controlling the blaze at the dam, a second Maryborough unit with air support, was responding to a fire at the motocross track near the town’s cemetery where a dozen stumps had been set alight — the fire was put out after one helicopter dropped water and foam on the area.
With both fires considered to be lit under suspicious circumstances, CFA Goldfields Group Officer Peter Higgins said that on a different day, the outcome could’ve been very dangerous.
“We’re just very lucky that the wind had fallen away,” he said.
“The grass in the area is fully cured now so on a windy day [a fire] would run pretty good.
“It’s important to not be reckless, we’re in the Fire Danger Period. I also urge people who are driving through bushland and see something unusual to call the authorities.”
That same afternoon Maryborough Police, as well as, Highway Patrol and Goldfields Crime Investigation Unit (CIU), were also controlling an incident around the Frank Graham Oval — with a number of police cars blocking off the area.
Although investigations regarding that matter are understood to be ongoing, officers have arrested and charged a man in another case relating to motor vehicle thefts.
Last weekend, from Friday to Sunday police received multiple reports of theft from motor vehicle incidents occurring in Joseph Court, where a burglary was also reported, as well as Elliott Street and the surrounding area.
The spate of offending continued where a vehicle was stolen from Outtrim Street and was later located burnt out in Timor on Saturday morning.
A vehicle, nearby to the one burnt out in Bowenvale Road, Timor, was then stolen and according to police, was later located in Carisbrook where a further burglary incident occurred in McNeil Street.
Maryborough Police arrested a male, who was in possession of the stolen vehicle, at this incident.
As a result, a 28-year-old man from the Ballarat area was charged with a range of offences including arson, theft of a motor vehicle, burglary and drug offences and was remanded in custody to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on December 14.
It follows a number of incidents of similar offending that occurred in McKean, Albert and Alma streets as well as Worrall Court last week.
Investigators from Goldfields CIU have indicated the vehicles targeted in this spate of offending were largely unlocked, however it appears scissors had been used in an attempt to gain entry to some vehicles.
Detective Sergeant Steve Atkinson said CCTV footage played a vital role in the arrest of the offender.
“This is a good outcome for our community with an offender now off the street,” he said.
“This offending does highlight the continued importance of ensuring motor vehicles are locked and valuables are not left in your car.
“Police urge residents, especially in rural areas, to install CCTV where they can — it greatly assists investigations and this is a perfect example of an early arrest made.”
