Raid on ATM

By Tania Martin
POLICE are hunting three bandits who smashed their way into the Paradise Hotel in Clematis last week and made off with an ATM machine.
The smash and grab happenedsometime between 8pm and 11pm last Tuesday night (12 January).
Pakenham Criminal Investigation Unit’s Senior Detective Colin Beard said closed circuit television (CCTV) footage had shown three men drive up to the hotel in a ute or pick-up truck.
He said the men smashed the lower glass into the main bar of the hotel and reversed the truck up to the window.
“They then carried it out and drove off,” Snr Det Beard said.
A tow-truck was stolen from Sheds and Beyond in Officer the same night, but police are unable to say if it was used in the raid.
Snr Det Beard said although police had CCTV footage it wasn’t very clear due to a lack of light in the area.
“All we can see are the figures moving around,” he said.
Snr Det Beard said the ATM burglary was not something that happened in the hills everyday.
“It’s something you see in Moonee Ponds and Carlton, not out this way,” he said.
A Paradise Hotel employee found the smashed window and missing ATM shortly after 7.30am last Wednesday.
She said it was a huge shock.
“I have never seen anything like this before … they smashed the glass and were in and out within two and a half minutes,” the employee said.
Pakenham CIU is calling for anyone who may have seen or heard anything to contact police on 5945 2500.
The burglary is the latest in a number of incidents in the hills.
Belgrave Police are calling for information following a break-in at Highcliff Road in Upwey.
Sergeant Graeme Moore said the house was broken into sometime between 8am and 3.30pm on Thursday 14 January.
He said the owners were away on holidays but their teenage children had been left in charge of the house.
“One of the kids returned home to find the door unlocked and a small safe stolen from one of the bedrooms,” Sgt Moore said.
“They said the door had been locked but there was no sign of forced entry.”
Sgt Moore said after further investigation it was discovered there was a faulty lock on the laundry door of the house.
He said there was approximately $1000 in the stolen safe.
Sgt Moore said a car was also broken into in Jacksons Hill Road in Menzies Creek between 8pm and 1pm on Friday 16 January.
He said the owner had left the car unlocked in her carport.
Sgt Moore said although nothing was stolen, it was a timely reminder for people to lock their cars.
Later that night in the same street, sometime after 11pm a man’s shipping container was broken into.
Sgt Moore said a padlock was cut but nothing was stolen.
In Ferny Creek, three plasma televisions, an LCD TV and a laptop were stolen from a house in Belgrave-Ferny Creek Road after 6am on 16 January.
Sgt Moore said police were still unsure how the offenders gained entry and are calling for information.
Anyone who may have seen anything in relation to the break-ins should call Belgrave Police on 9754 6677.