SPATE OF KNIFE CRIME
POLICE CONCERNED ABOUT RUN OF INCIDENTS DESPITE TASSIE ROBBERIES ON DOWNWARD TREND
TASMANIA Police say they take armed robberies “extremely seriously”, following a string of robberies involving knives.
So far this calendar year Tasmania Police have publicly reported 13 armed or attempted armed robberies.
Ten of those happened in June and July.
Most of the targets were businesses, however six incidents also involved people being robbed on the street, and one was an armed robbery of a home.
Annual police statistics show robberies overall trending down in Tasmania in recent years.
In 2020-21 robbery offences, including armed and unarmed, reduced 25 per cent from 104 in 2019-20 to 78 in 2020-21.
Acting Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Debbie Williams said robbery statistics to May 2022 were also down 10 per cent on the previous year to date.
However, Ms Williams said all such incidents were concerning.
“Any incident which causes harm or distress to members of our community is a key concern for Tasmania Police, which is why all robbery matters are taken extremely seriously,” she said.
“In recent incidents police have quickly apprehended those responsible, and Tasmanians can rest assured that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert
Mallett said as most small businesses now operated with mostly cashless transactions, would-be robbers in search of money had little to gain.
Mr Mallett said although Tasmania was a relatively safe place, such crimes were traumatising.
“I’m sure a lot who break in walk away empty-handed and very disappointed. But it’s no less a feeling of personal invasion for the business owners,” he said.
Mr Mallett said small businesses carrying cigarettes felt particularly vulnerable.
“Tobacco products in Australia are the most expensive in the world, so they are the most attractive when it comes to armed robberies,” he said.
University of Tasmania criminologists Vicky Nagy, Dr Michael Guerzoni and Dr Leone Howes say armed robberies can be driven by a range of factors, including drug use or poverty.
“Interviews with convicted armed robbers in Australia have found that their selfreported motivations are also about thrills, control, alleviation of boredom, feeling disconnected from society or exclusion that act as drivers for offending in this type of crime,” Dr Nagy said.
“For example, the thrill of the crime can act as the action that cuts through depression or the haze of drug use – it is an adrenaline kick. As with other crimes, over time occasional robberies can develop into a pattern of repeat offending. Particularly if the individual is within criminal groups or networks.”
Dr Nagy said offenders were overwhelmingly males aged under 35.
“Most of these offenders will escalate up to this crime rather than start at this crime – so breaking and entering, shoplifting, motor vehicle theft,” she said.
“The highest proportion is in age range from 15-19 years, with substantial drop off from 25 years and further decreases with older ages.”
The criminology team said more attention should be on prevention of youth crime rather than detention or youth justice supervision.
“The age of criminal responsibility is low – 10 years – although Tasmania has raised the age of detention to 14 years, which is a step in the right direction. The earlier there is police and detention involved the more likely it will be that there will be a cycle of offending and detention,’ Dr Nagy said.
“Focus should be on equipping families and schools to be strong support networks for all children/teens – but especially those in disadvantaged circumstances.”
in I’m sure a lot who break walk away empty-handed But and very disappointed. of it’s no less a feeling the personal invasion for business owners Robert Mallett
JULY 16:
Police attended Bradman St, Clarendon Vale, in relation to an attempted armed robbery. Police located a 33-year-old Glenorchy man with his vehicle at the scene. The man had minor injuries to his upper body from an unknown man who attempted to rob him. A 19-year-old man from Bridgewater was later charged with attempted aggravated armed robbery. Police alleged the male used social media to lure the man to Clarendon Vale with the
intention of robbing him.
JULY 12:
About 10am in the Somerset area, a man allegedly assaulted two elderly men and demanded cash from one of them. It was also alleged the man walked into a Somerset supermarket and demanded cash from staff, without success. It was further alleged the man then attempted to steal two occupied vehicles. It was believed the incidents occurred within a 15-minute time period. A 29-year-old man was located near the scene and charged with a range of offences.
JULY 9:
Police attended the scene of an alleged aggravated armed robbery of a Domino’s delivery driver in Ulverstone.
Police alleged that at about 10.30pm two male offenders approached the Domino’s employee as she stopped in Shaw St for a delivery.
It was alleged one of the males was armed with a knife and the other had what appeared to be a firearm. The alleged offenders fled the scene with a small amount of cash and a number of pizzas. Two males aged 19 and 16 were charged.
JULY 2:
About 6.40pm two females allegedly entered a store in Sandy Bay armed with a knife. They allegedly confronted an employee and stole a small quantity of cash.
A short time later two youths aged 17 and 15 were taken into custody.
JULY 2:
About 4.20pm, a male youth allegedly approached staff at Woolworths in the Hobart CBD and demanded money while holding a knife. No money was taken and the offender ran from the store when security approached him. At 5.25pm, the same male allegedly entered the Touch of Asia store in Sandy Bay and stole a quantity of cash from the till while holding a knife.
JULY 1:
About 1.30pm a man, allegedly armed with a knife, approached a vehicle on Carlton Beach Rd in Dodges Ferry and attempted to steal the vehicle from the occupant.
The man was unable to start the vehicle and fled the area on foot.
JUNE 28:
About 11.35pm, a man armed with a knife blade allegedly threatened an employee of a food van on Charles St in Moonah, before fleeing with a quantity of cash.
An 18-year-old man was charged with armed robbery and breach of bail.
JUNE 22:
Police and emergency services were called to a Moonah address about 6.15pm following a report of an alleged armed robbery in which a man received non life threatening injuries. Police said the matter was an isolated incident and the parties were known to each other. An 18-year-old man was charged with aggravated armed robbery and stealing.
JUNE 14:
At 6.10pm police responded to a report of an armed robbery at Woolworths Kingston Caltex. The alleged offender was a youth armed with a small knife.
JUNE 5:
In the early hours of June 5 a 24-year-old man from South Launceston was allegedly assaulted in the Launceston CBD. The male received two stab wounds in the incident and personal property was stolen. A 20-year-old man from Newnham was arrested and charged with aggravated armed robbery and wounding.
APRIL 19:
An alleged armed robbery occurred at a service station in South Hobart. A 23-year-old man from South Hobart was charged with offences including armed robbery.
MARCH 6:
Police alleged two men went to the Hawthorn Drive Store in Kingston. One of the alleged offenders threatened staff and members of the public with a machete and stole tobacco products before fleeing the scene. A 19-yearold man from Montrose and a 25-year-old man from Bridgewater were charged with armed robbery.
FEBRUARY 25:
At 7.37am police responded to a report of a robbery at a small supermarket on Main Rd, Austins Ferry. Police alleged a man armed with a small axe stole a large quantity of grocery items. Police arrested a 60-year-old man.