CRIME CLIPPED BUT POLICE VOW NO LET - UP
POLICE are hunting for the driver of a vehicle suspected of attempting to run down a police officer.
Townsville Rapid Action and Patrol Inspector Joe Kitching said about 1.10pm on Saturday a black Commodore station wagon was seen driving through a stop sign in Chandler St, Garbutt.
“Police attempted to intercept that vehicle and the vehicle then evaded police,” he said.
The car was later seen near Deeragun and a police officer approached the vehicle.
“At that time the driver deliberately drove the vehicle at the police officer,” Insp Kitching said.
The Northern Territory registered Commodore is described as having a smashed rear window with a plastic covering. Insp Kitching called for members of the public who had seen the vehicle to advise police. A MAN is accused of indecently assaulting a bartender after being asked to leave a Townsville pub.
Inspector Joe Kitching from Townsville Rapid Action and Patrol said a 25- year- old man had been asked to leave the Kirwan Tavern about 8.15pm on Sunday.
“In the car park the male person was creating a disturbance and was approached again by the management of the hotel,” Insp Kitching said.
“During that interaction the male person has assaulted the female manager of the hotel by grabbing her on the breast.
“Police have then responded and took the person into custody. He’s been charged with one count of indecent approach.”
Insp Kitching said the incident should serve as a reminder to the public about appropriate behaviour on licensed premises. MASS arrests last year have led to a significant drop in crime across Townsville but police are vowing to keep up the pressure on criminals.
An analysis of statistics by the Townsville Bulletin showed a widespread reduction of the crime rate in major suburbs across Townsville.
The number of crimes in the past year in Railway Estate and Belgian Gardens both dropped by more than 20 per cent when compared to the year before.
Townsville Rapid Action and Patrols Inspector Joe Kitching said the drop in crime was related to a crackdown from police. In October last year additional police were brought to Townsville to take part in Operation Oscar Merchant.
When that operation ended in March this year 1449 people had been arrested and 3772 charges were laid.
Insp Kitching said the community had also helped to reduce crime.
“The community has really heeded the message of police to lock it or lose it. That helped to ensure they did not become victims of opportunistic crime.”
He said police would continue to work to make Townsville a safer place to live. Hannah Chandler is a resident of Condon, which has seen an increase of 25.22 per cent in crime.
She said crime was still a problem in Townsville.
Last week she returned from shopping and unloaded her groceries from her car. The hairdresser was planning to return to get her work bag packed with clippers and expensive scissors.
She became distracted and when her partner returned home an hour later he told her the car had been opened.
She had been robbed and despite searches of pawnbrokers, has been unable to find the precious items in the bag.
“I’ve lived in Townsville for years and we recently moved Condon from Kelso,” she said.
“Everyone has a bad perspective of Kelso but we never had any problems.
“But when we moved to Condon we were robbed within weeks.”
She praised police for their work in trying to prevent and solve crimes.
“It’s sad. The criminals are often just kids and don’t understand that you have to pay for everything. That is my career in that bag.”
ANDREW BACKHOUSE 10 to