Author: Stephen Taylor

A MORNINGTON man is expected to be charged with home invasion and aggravated burglary on Wednesday afternoon after a break-in to a Frankston North house, 3.45am, yesterday (Tuesday 4 April). Detective Senior Constable Paul Roberts, of Frankston CIU, said the man, 36, was taken to Frankston Hospital after allegedly breaking into a house occupied by a woman in her 60s, her three sons aged 25, 30 and 37, and the pregnant girlfriend of one of the sons. Detective Roberts said the man, said to be armed with a hammer and a knife, unsuccessfully tried to force a security door at…

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DETECTIVES believe a cigarette burglary operation covering Frankston, Langwarrin, Seaford and surrounding suburbs has been scuttled with a couple of arrests last week.  Detective Leading Senior Constable Belinda Rampal, of Frankston CIU, said a man, 25, has been charged with 54 offences and a girl, 17, charged with 20 offences, including burglary, theft, evading police and conduct endangering life. The pair is believed to have stolen up to $50,000 in cigarettes over the past two months from supermarkets and newsagents using jemmy bars and angle grinders to force security doors and cut locks to cabinets. The thefts also allegedly occurred…

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PATTERSON Lakes Library and Community Centre will be repainted and each of the 13,947 books individually cleaned before the centre reopens on Monday (3 April). The major clean-up follows a fire last Tuesday night (21 March) which started in the ceiling of the community centre. Other areas, including the library, suffered smoke and water damage. About 50 firefighters fought the blaze at the buildings in Thompson Rd. Kingston mayor Cr David Eden said the major clean-up aimed to re-open community services as quickly as possible. Entry to the library will be through the Thompson Rd doorway at the front of…

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WILDLIFE officers from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning want to hear from anyone who saw dogs attacking a seal on Edithvale beach last week. The alleged attack occurred after 7.30pm last Thursday (23 March) on the foreshore at the end of Alexandra St. DELWP resource protection and management program manager Suriya Vij said the department has already received “multiple reports” of the attack. “Two dogs reportedly approached a seal resting on the beach, nipped at the seal’s flippers as well as barking at and harassing it. These dogs were unleashed. “Dogs are allowed along the Edithvale beach…

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RENTAL affordability in Frankston has hit historic lows, according to new data from the Department of Human Services. Reports for the December quarter show private rental affordability is on a steady decline in Frankston as the housing affordability ‘crisis’ creeps to the outer suburbs. “People on very low incomes are being pushed out of the private rental market, and have very few accommodation options left because there’s insufficient public housing,” Council to Homeless Persons CEO Jenny Smith said. “Consequently we’re seeing more ‘rough’ sleeping, as well as hidden forms of homelessness.” Ms Smith said the data “painted a pretty dire…

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