FIREBUG HUNT
Police want your help to find cowards who attacked our churches, schools
THE police are calling on the public to help put the heat on arsonists responsible for attacks across Geelong, including at schools, businesses and five churches.
“It’s cowardly ... some of these buildings were the centre of communities,” Detective Senior Constable Daryl Crosthwaite said.
LOCAL authorities are about to put the heat on the region’s arson “cowards” with police appealing to the public to help solve some of Geelong’s worst deliberately lit fires.
Places of worship, primary schools and community football facilities were all burned to the ground at the hands of firebugs, and a new campaign between Crime Stoppers, police and the CFA is aiming to catch those responsible.
Detective Senior Constable Daryl Crosthwaite said no suburb was immune from arson.
“There are a number of motives for lighting fires, such as vandalism, concealment of crime and thrill seeking. A lot of these offenders are not connected with the premises in any way, which just makes the act even more senseless,” he said.
“It’s cowardly and particularly frustrating for police and the community. Some of these buildings were the centre of communities.”
The latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows 159 cases of arson were investigated across Greater Geelong in the year ending September 2017 — more than three a week. In the Surf Coast there were eight.
The region’s arson postcode hot spots include: 3214 with 45 cases; 3221 with 21, and 3219 with 19.
In the postcode of 3221 — which includes Gnarwarre, Barrabool and Ceres — the number more than doubled when compared with the previous 12 months.
Most other areas experienced decreases.
Statewide, police probed 3119 arson reports.
From next month, Crime Stoppers will begin releasing the names and images of wanted firebugs as part of a new campaign to hold lawbreakers accountable.
Penalties include up to 15 years in jail or fines of more than $36,000.
The maximum penalty for arson resulting in death is 25 years in jail.
Arson is being investigated as a possible cause for Tuesday’s grassfire at Mannerim which took 100 firefighters about five hours to extinguish. Thick smoke e blanketed part of the Bellarine Peninsula as the grass fire burned between n 60-70ha after igniting g alongside Swan Bay Rd, d, near the Bellarine Tourist st Railway and Rail Trail.
Anyone with inforformation on the Mannerim rim fire is urged to contact act Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.