MONBULK police are asking budding bushwalkers to carry travel provisions in case of emergency, after seven people lost their bearings in Kallista over the weekend.
Monbulk Police Sergeant Mark Knight said at 4pm on Sunday 9 August, the seven people were visiting the Sherbrooke Forest near Grants Picnic Ground.
The group, which included a four-year-old, were missing on the bush tracks for about two hours and became distressed as the sun set and the area became colder.
Sgt Knight said that one member of the group had a phone and was able to stay in constant contact, but that it had still been a “nightmare” to track them down.
Using police Air Wing and six police officers based at the picnic ground, the group was located on Newmann Track about 6pm and taken out of the bush by four-wheel-drive.
Sgt Knight said it was important that bush-walkers had a “thorough knowledge” of the areas they are exploring.
“Speak to Parks (Victoria) regarding maps and things like that, and make sure they carry their phone with them,” he said.
“Wear appropriate clothing and carry provisions.
“That’s all they need – just a basic kit of water, muesli bars, chocolate bars, a phone and a torch.”
No members of the group were injured or required medical attention.
Man served intervention order
A RICHMOND man has been slapped with an intervention order after a domestic incident resulted in a house flooding in Ferny Creek.
Olinda Police Sergeant Andrew Herdman said at 12.50pm on Tuesday 28 July, a couple were driving along the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road in Ferny Creek, when the man tried to pull the driver’s wheel to make the car pull over.
Sgt Herdman said the pair were arguing at the time, and the Richmond man wanted to pull the car off the road to talk with the driver, but instead swerved the car into a roadside fire hydrant.
The hydrant burst from the impact, and the water then flooded the area underneath a nearby house, which took several hours to drain.
Sgt Herdman said the man was interviewed for conduct endangering persons and received an intervention order.
Tourists in road mishap
TOURISTS are being asked to be careful on roads through the hills, after a car drove head-on into a power pole in Mount Dandenong recently.
Olinda Police Sergeant Andrew Herdman said on Friday 31 July, a car carrying three tourists came off the road on Ridge Road in Mount Dandenong near Osprey Road, crashing head-on into a power pole.
A passenger in the rear of the car received extensive facial injuries from hitting the headrest of the chair in front of them, requiring ambulance assistance.
Sgt Herdman said the passenger was taken to Maroondah Hospital, and the other two occupants of the car came away with sore wrists from the airbags.
“It was just a case of not paying attention,” he said.
“Just drive to the road conditions.”
Emergency services contacted the power company to inspect the pole, which had been dislodged by the crash.
Remanded over burglary
A DANDENONG man has been remanded in custody after a burglary in Montrose last week.
At 9.45am on Tuesday 4 August, two people are believed to have broken into a Moore Road property in Montrose, stealing items from inside the house.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said the offenders were sighted leaving the property in a vehicle, which was reported to police.
Police then located the vehicle in Wantirna, with one of the alleged offenders – a 35-year-old Dandenong Man – inside.
Police arrested the man, charged him with burglary and theft and remanded him in custody.
He is expected to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Ring found, owner sought
POLICE at Mount Evelyn are looking for the owner of a ring that was handed into the station on 2 August.
Leading Senior Constable Mark Lancaster of Mount Evelyn police said they were very keen to find the owner of the jewellery.
The ring, found on York Road in Mount Evelyn, has an inscriptions on it.
Anyone who has lost any jewellery is urged to call Mount Evelyn police on 9736 2473.
You will be asked to describe the ring and the inscription if you believe the ring is yours.
Cars damaged by nail gun firing
A DRIVE-BY shooting of a different kind has police on the hunt for a ute-driver, who damaged several cars last week with a nail-gun.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said between 2.50pm and 3pm on Wednesday 5 August, a white ute with a single cab drove past Nissan and Toyota dealerships on Maroondah Highway, Lilydale.
Det Sgt Barrow said that a nail gun was then fired out of the car, damaging several of the cars in the car-yards.
Anyone with information, or who may have seen the incident take place, is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to file a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Assault probe continues
POLICE are still investigating the circumstances of an assault last week, which left a Boronia man in hospital after he was hit with a tomahawk.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Sergeant Pat Barrow said between 11.10pm and 11.30pm on Sunday 2 August, four men got involved in an altercation with the occupants of a Cave Hill Road, Lilydale property.
“(The altercation) was inside a residence and spilled out into the driveway area,” Det Sgt Barrow said.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told the Mail that a 30-year-old Boronia man was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, after he was hit in the back with a tomahawk.
Police were at the scene of the alleged assault into the afternoon of the following day.
Det Sgt Barrow said a dark-coloured tradesman-type ute with chrome bars in the back was seen at the scene, and asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to file a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Theft from car: man arrested
A LAUNCHING Place man will face court this week after being arrested by Yarra Ranges police officers last week.
The 23-year-old man was arrested and remanded in custody last week, in regards to a theft from a motor vehicle in Mooroolbark and deception matters at Westfield Knox Shopping Centre.
The man will face court on Tuesday 11 August.
