SA Police News: Scammers targeting South Australians | Hit-run crash at Pasadena
Police have released a photo of a man they suspect is involved in an elaborate phone scam that has already cost victims in SA thousands of dollars.
Police & Courts
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Rolling South Australia police and emergency services news starting Sunday, June 27.
SATURDAY, JULY 2
SALISBURY PLAINS LIQUOR STORY ROBBED
Police are investigating a robbery at a Salisbury Plain liquor store tonight.
Two women entered a bottle shop at Saints Shopping Centre, Main North Road, Salisbury Plains about 6.45pm and loaded a quantity of spirits into a bag.
When confronted by security and staff, one of the women threatened them with a tyre lever or crowbar.
No one was injured during the incident.
The suspects are both described as women of Aboriginal appearance, one wearing a mustard-yellow hoodie and the other wearing a bright-red hoodie. They were last seen heading west along Saints Rd on foot.
Police searched the area but have not yet located the suspects. Crime scene investigators attended and examined the scene.
SCAM WARNING TO SOUTH AUSTRALIANS
Police are warning of an elaborate scam, which has already cost South Australians thousands of dollars.
The telephone scam involves someone calling, claiming to be from a fraud investigation section of the Australian Federal Police, People’s Choice, Service SA or other legitimate businesses.
Victims have told police the scammers are convincing, and they told callers they could face charges if they did not comply with requests.
The scammers then claimed the victim’s bank account had been compromised and advised them victim to withdraw cash, which was stolen.
They then told the victim a member of their “security team” would collect the cash for “safe keeping”.
Police have released a picture of an alleged member of the “security team” snapped by a victim at Woodville North.
“Unfortunately a number of people have fallen (victim) to this type of scam and handed over thousands of dollars of cash to the scammers,” a police spokesperson said.
“Government agencies, including SAPOL, will never ask members of the public to withdraw cash or any sort of bank transaction over the phone or to be made using iTunes vouchers or similar.”
For tips on avoiding scammers, visit the Scam Watch website.
If you recognise the man in the photograph, or have other information that could be of use to investigators, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
HIT-RUN CRASH AT PASADENA
Polic are looking for a driver who crashed into a tree at Pasadena then left the scene.
The crash happened on Gunther Parade about 1.30am on Saturday.
When police arrived the driver was gone.
Police dog Stoic tracked a scent to a home close by, and located a woman with minor injuries. She was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.
Police are unsure whether the woman was the driver of the car, but investigations are continuing. The Ford was towed from the scene.
FRIDAY, JULY 2
DRIVER LEAVES SCENE OF CRASH
A driver is on the run after crashing into a pole bringing down power lines at Enfield.
The crash happened on Main North Rd near Collins St about 4.30am Friday.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a man, the driver of the Holden sedan, leave the scene before police arrival.
SA Power Networks are at the scene to fix the powerlines but one lane is closed on Main North Rd to southbound traffic, and is expected to be closed for several hours.
There have been no reported power outages and traffic is returning to normal after earlier delays.
Police are investigating the crash to identify the driver.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SHOTS FIRED AT LEWISTON
An allegedly drunk man has been reported for firing a shotgun on a Lewiston property.
Police received reports of several gunshots coming from a Hayman Rd property just after midnight Friday.
They went to the property and spoke to the occupant who was allegedly intoxicated and had been shooting the gun on the property.
Police also uncovered four rifles, a shotgun, a crossbow and throwing knives in a search, which were seized.
The man, 33, was reported for discharging a firearm while intoxicated, insecure firearm and possessing a prohibiting weapon. He will appear in court at a later date.
SUSPICIOUS MOTORBIKE FIRE
A fire that destroyed a motorbike in North Adelaide was deliberately lit, police believe.
The alarm was raised about 7.40pm Thursday, where a motorbike was reported alight in the garage area.
The fire was contained to the bike but it was extensively damaged.
Police are investigating the suspicious blaze and encourage anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
THURSDAY, JULY 1
STABBING AT DAVOREN PARK
A man was taken to hospital for treatment after he was stabbed in a street north of the CBD on Wednesday night.
Just before 7pm, police were called to Chesterman Street at Davoren Park after reports a man had been stabbed in the torso.
Police believe the incident happened following an altercation between the victim and a group of men, who were in a black Range Rover.
The 35-year-old victim, of no fixed address, was taken to hospital by ambulance and treated for the wound and possible head injuries.
HOTEL HOLD-UP AT MORPHETT VALE
A search is under way after an armed robbery at a hotel south of the CBD.
About 9.20pm, it is alleged a man entered a hotel on Main South Road, produced a knife and stole a cash register. No one was injured in the incident.
He was last spotted heading east by foot on a bike track near Timothy Road, and could not be located by police.
He is described as being of thin build and about 178 centimetres tall. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black Adidas hoodie with white sleeves and black strips on the arm, dark grey jeans and white sneakers.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
STOLEN CAR FOUND AT POORAKA
A man has been arrested after police found a car that had been stolen two months ago.
About 1am Thursday, officers on general patrol spotted a blue Toyota RAV4 in Pratt Ave at Pooraka.
They stopped the car after a check revealed its registration and its description did not match, and discovered it had been reported stolen from the Adelaide CBD on May 2.
Officers searched the car and allegedly found a knife in the driver’s door, as well as numerous sets of number plates that are also believed to have been stolen.
The driver, a 34-year-old man of no fixed address, was charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle, four counts of unlawful possession and carrying an offensive weapon.
He was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30
STOLEN WATCHES, GOLD RINGS FOUND IN DUMPED CAR
A haul of suspected stolen luxury watches and jewellery have been seized by police after a pursuit through the southern suburbs.
A car, that had unregistered number plates, sped off in Christie Downs on Sunday after police attempted to pull it over.
They followed the Toyota Camry to Hackham West before the pursuit was stopped because of reckless driving.
When the car was later found abandoned in Kari Crescent in Huntfield Heights, police discovered gold rings, two Rolex watches, a Citizen watch and an HSV watched numbered 299.
The whereabouts of the driver is being investigated.
Anyone who recognises the haul can contact Christies Beach Police Station and provide proof of ownership.
DANGEROUS DRINK DRIVER ARRESTED
An unlicensed drink driver has been charged after doing burnouts and allegedly leading police on a dangerous pursuit in Port Pirie.
A Commodore sedan was spotted doing burnouts across both lanes of traffic and in front of other vehicles on David St about midnight Wednesday.
Police tried to stop the car but the driver sped off along York Rd.
Cordons were deployed and the driver was stopped a short time later.
The Port Pirie man, 26, returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.193, nearly four times over the legal limit of 0.05.
Checks revealed the driver had never held a licence.
He was charged with misusing a motor vehicle, failing to stop, driving dangerously to incite a police pursuit, driving dangerously and unlicensed.
His car was impounded for 28 days.
MAN HIDING IN DRAIN ARRESTED
A man has been arrested after police found him hiding in a drain at Edinburgh.
Security cameras caught a man lurking around a warehouse under construction on Kaurna Ave about 2am Wednesday.
Police dog Marley with officers searched the site and found the man hiding in the drain.
He attempted to run but collided with cordoned officers and was arrested.
The Salisbury North man, 33, was found with a bag containing tools and wire that had been allegedly cut from the inside of the premises. He was charged with being unlawfully on premises, property damage, and theft. He was bailed to appear in court in August.
DRIVER OF STOLEN VAN SOUGHT
A suspect is on the run after a stolen van was seen driving from a construction site at Westbourne Park.
A man was seen climbing over the fence of a house under constriction just after midnight Wednesday on Marlborough Rd.
The white Ford van drove off as patrols entered the street and was last seen heading east along Marlborough Rd. Officers in the police helicopter located the van abandoned in nearby Nanthea Terrace at Unley Park.
The driver remains at large.
The van, which was reported stolen from an Underdale address about a week ago, was towed from the scene.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
TUESDAY, JUNE 29
DRIVER PLOUGHS UTE THROUGH FENCE, INTO POOL
A man has driven his ute through the back fence of a Walkerville home, landing in a swimming pool, after a suspected medical episode.
The man, believed to be in his 50s, crashed into the Hay St property, which backs on to Monaro Court, just before 4pm.
A painter employed by the new owners of the home jumped into the pool to help the man, who was struggling to get out of the partly submerged car.
He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.
COP SPAT ON WHILE ARRESTING BUS ASSAULTER
A young woman allegedly spat on a police officer after being arrested for assaulting bus passengers on Monday.
The 21-year-old Cumberland Park woman, who was with another woman of the same age, allegedly inflicted minor injuries on a passenger, abused the driver and damaged the ticket machine.
The pair were charged with two counts of aggravated assault, property damage, disorderly behaviour and assaulting a prescribed emergency worker.
They were both bailed to face court in August.
Anyone who witnessed the incident has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
TEEN STABBED AT SEMAPHORE
A teenager is in hospital after he was allegedly stabbed in a random attack.
The 16-year-old boy and his two friends were near the Semaphore Jetty on Monday about 7pm when the teen was allegedly assaulted by a group of males not known to him, and stabbed in the leg.
His friends attempted to drive him to hospital, but stopped on Bower Rd and called an ambulance.
The Salisbury East boy had a single stab wound to the upper leg, and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
The suspects are described as a group of men of African appearance, and left the area before police arrived.
The incident happened just days after another teenage boy was during a wild brawl outside a McDonald’s at Modbury.
Police were called to a carpark at Tea Tree Plaza on Friday night when up to 50 youths began fighting with various weapons, including iron bars and baseball bats.
A 15-year-old boy suffered a serious stab wound to the abdomen during the melee, which ended with youths running off into nearby streets.
Anyone with information or footage on either of the incidents should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MAN ROBBED IN HIS HOPE VALLEY HOME
A man was threatened in his own home before his wallet and phone were stolen on the weekend.
The Hope Valley man was confronted by two suspects at about 10.40pm on Sunday.
He was not physically injured.
Both male suspects are described as caucasian.
One was about 183cm tall with a medium build and short, dark hair, wearing dark clothing and a black bandana covering half his face.
The second suspects is described as of medium build and was wearing blue clothes with a blue bandana covering the bottom half of his face.
It is unknown if they are known to each other.
Police are investigating the aggravated serious criminal trespass.
ROAD RAGE RAM AT HALLETT COVE
A woman was rammed in a domestic-related road rage incident at Hallett Cove on Tuesday morning.
She was driving a 2003 VY Holden Commodore around the Hallett Cove and Lonsdale areas between about 8.30am and 9am when she was rammed by a man known to her in a white 1997 Holden ute.
The cars were seen on Ramrod Ave and Meyer, Lonsdale and Dyson roads.
A 29-year-old Christies Beach man was arrested and charged with domestic-related offences.
Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
MONDAY, JUNE 28
SERVO ROBBED AT KNIFEPOINT
A hungry thief is on the run after threatening a service station worker with a knife before making off with chocolate bars at Salisbury.
A man wearing a balaclava entered the Park Terrace servo about 5.15am Monday, threatening the worker before stealing cash, cigarettes and cherry ripe bars.
The suspect fled the scene on foot, running towards Cross Keys Rd.
No-one was injured in the incident.
The suspect is described as being caucasian, 170cm tall, very heavy build. wearing a black hoodie with Lonsdale written on the sleeve, and blue jeans.
Police searched the area, but the suspect remains at large.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
DRIVER FINED FOR INSECURE LOAD
A driver has been fined for strapping a mattress to the roof of an unregistered hatchback at Woodville Park.
Police saw the Ford driving along Ninth Ave about 5pm Sunday.
The mattress was tied on with a single extension lead, which was being held by the driver.
The vehicle was not owned by the driver, and had not been registered for a number of years.
A Modbury North man, 52, was fined $472 for an insecure load and had the vehicle towed from the scene.
It comes days after footage emerged of a car driving with a constructed double bed strapped to its roof on the Northern Expressway.
The video circulated social media on Wednesday, and police are still investigating the incident.
HOUSE FIRE BLAIR ATHOL
A fire that damaged a house in Blair Athol was deliberately lit, police believe.
Witnesses saw a suspect smash the front window of the home on Marmion Ave about 1.15am Monday, placing accelerant in the house before lighting the substance.
The blaze caused damage to the front part of the home, and was extinguished before spreading to other properties.
The male occupant escaped the home without injury.
Witnesses saw a man wearing a motorcycle helmet running away from the house towards Prospect Rd.
They later heard a motorcycle speeding away from the area.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SUNDAY, JUNE 27
HOUSE FIRE IN STATE’S SOUTH-EAST
A fire that ignited in a shed destroying tools and machinery has spread to house in Millicent causing an estimated $100,000 in damage.
The blaze broke out at the Mount Gambier Road property just before 8pm on Sunday according to a CFS spokesman.
“A caller to triple-0 reported seeing large flames rising from behind a house,” the spokesman said.
“Four CFS crews, a bulk water carrier, SA police and SA ambulance services arrived to find the shed at the rear of the home ablaze.”
Crews worked to protect nearby houses but the fire spread to the adjourning home.
The cause of the fire remains unknown with fire cause investors expected to attend the scene tomorrow.
MAN ASSAULTED IN HOME INVASION
An Ingle Farm man was rushed to hospital on Saturday night after he was assaulted and his home invaded.
The 25-year-old was found unconscious in his Binderi Crescent home just after 7.30pm.
He had serious head and facial injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The man is in a stable condition and his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Detectives have visited the scene and are investigating the matter.
MAN STOPPED WITH BIKE TRAILER FULL OF GEAR
A man was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly stealing property from building sites in the Mount Barker area.
Police stopped and spoke to the 45-year-old man in Eucalypt Street, Mount Barker just after midnight and he was later arrested and charged with theft and going equipped with housebreaking implements.
He was riding a bicycle with a trailer full of property, including Makita tools, copper wire, copper pipes, bolt cutters, brake and oil fluids, a water meter, wire cutters and pliers.
Police suspect the property was stolen from building sites in the Mount Barker area, possibly around Eucalypt Street, Sims Road and Kangaroo Terrace.
He was bailed to appear in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court on 11 August.
STOLEN CAR FOUND ON FIRE
A stolen car has been set alight on the North South Motorway.
The Mazda 3 was found ablaze at Dry Creek in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Its owner, from Penfield, had reported the car stolen earlier in the day.
The fire was extinguished but the car was destroyed.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
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