SA police news: Attempted bottle shop robbery with hatchet | Woman blows more than six times over
A Hackham bottle-o worker had a lucky escape on Friday night after a man armed with a hatchet attempted to rob his shop.
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Rolling South Australia police and emergency services news starting Sunday, 21 February.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27
LUCKY ESCAPE FROM ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY
A bottle shop worker locked himself inside to avoid an attempted robber armed with a hatchet on Friday night.
The worker was closing the Hackham shop at about 11pm when the man demanded money.
The employee ran inside and locked the doors.
The suspect – described as causasian, wearing a black puffer jacket, black pants, light shoes and aged in his mid 30s – left empty handed and fled towards South Road.
Police were unable to locate the suspect in the area and are appealing for information from anyone who might have seen a man matching the description on South Road.
CAR SET ON FIRE IN THE CITY
A Ford was set alight in the Adelaide CBD on Saturday morning in what police believe was a deliberate attack.
The car was completely destroyed in the fire, which happened in the carpark of a group of units on Angas Street at about 6am.
Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw “suspiscious activity” near Angas and Cyprus streets around the time of the fire.
TWO WOMEN BUSTED DRINK DRIVING
A Far North woman has lost her licence after blowing more than six times the legal limit.
The 52-year-old woman was pulled over at about 10.30pm on Friday and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.331.
She was reported for drink driving and lost her licence for 12 months.
A 48-year-old woman was also busted a couple of hours earlier driving at 0.123.
The Yalata woman was a learner driver who should have not had any alcohol in her system.
She was reported for drink driving and breaching conditions of a learner’s permit and lost her licence for six months.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26
ELDERLY WOMAN’S CAR STOLEN AND TORCHED
A woman in her 90s had her home broken into and car stolen at Ceduna.
The woman was unaware that between 10pm Tuesday and 7am Wednesday, thieves broke into her home, stole cash and her Nissan Pulsar sedan.
The stolen car was found torched on Wednesday morning at Shelley Beach.
Police believe the thieves might have suffered burns when they torched the woman’s car.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MAN’S LUCKY ESCAPE AFTER A TREE FALL
A man is lucky to be alive after a tree fell on him in the Adelaide Hills on Friday morning.
The 32-year-old was reportedly walking with two other males on Corkscrew Road and Gorge Road at Castambul about 11am when a tree fell.
Paramedics rushed to the scene after reports the man was trapped under the fallen tree.
The man suffered serious leg injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a stable condition.
HUGE CANNABIS HAUL AT MILE END
Police have found 16 bags of cannabis at a Mile End home after tracking down a man who stole from a hardware store.
The man was spotted by staff members at a Mile End hardware store allegedly carrying items out of the shop that he had not paid for.
On being asked to return the items, the man handed them back and allegedly pulled out a retractable knife, making verbal threats to staff.
Police investigated the incident, tracking down the man to his Mile End home, where the 41-year-old was arrested.
His home was searched and 16 bags of cannabis were allegedly found.
As a result of the incident and discovery of drugs, he was charged with aggravated assault, theft and drug trafficking.
The man was granted police bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on May 5.
TWO PEOPLE CAUGHT SMUGGLING ALCOHOL, DRUGS, INTO APY LANDS
Two people allegedly trying to smuggle a large quantity of drugs and alcohol into the APY Lands have been arrested.
Police stopped a Holden sedan on the Augusta Highway at Port Augusta about 1.45am Friday.
On searching the vehicle, 63 litres of alcohol, including Victoria Bitter, bourbon, and Cruisers, with a kilogram of cannabis in press sealed bags was discovered.
The driver of the vehicle, a 33-year-old from the APY Lands, was drug tested and provided a positive result for cannabis.
The drugs and alcohol were seized by police.
The passenger, a 44-year-old also from the APY Lands, along with the driver, were arrested for trafficking a controlled drug and supplying liquor to the APY Lands.
They were both granted bail to appear in the Mimili Court on June 2.
The driver may also face further drug driving charges pending forensic analysis results.
It follows a similar bust in December, where more than 300 litres of alcohol in a vehicle was intercepted by police, suspected of being illegally smuggled into the APY Lands.
The car was stopped on the Stuart Highway at Port Augusta on December 19.
TWO PEOPLE CAUGHT FLEEING POLICE AT KILBURN
Two people have been caught speeding from police in a dramatic morning in the northern suburbs on Friday.
Police tried to stop a grey Holden on Cormack Road at Wingfield but the car did not stop.
The car was not pursued, but police monitored it and last saw it in Kilburn. Cordons were set up in the area, and Police Dog Zeus found the car, and four people crouched inside the front of a home in Bank Street.
The driver, a 22-year-old from Elizabeth Park, was reported for driving unlicensed and other driving offences.
He will appear in court at a later date.
Also in the vehicle was a 16-year-old of no fixed address, who was wanted for a break in and theft of a vehicle at Croydon last week. He was arrested and will be questioned by police.
TWO CARS TORCHED IN NORTHERN SUBURBS
Two Toyotas have been destroyed in an early morning torching at Salisbury.
Firefighters found the HiLux and Corolla alight under a Carey Street veranda before 5am on Friday.
The fire was extinguished but both cars were destroyed.
The veranda’s roof and a nearby fence were also damaged.
It is believed to be suspicious.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25
MAN ARRESTED AFTER SUSPICIOUS HOUSE FIRE
A man who was injured in a suspicious house fire at Glandore overnight has been charged with arson.
Police and fire crews rushed to the home on Albion Avenue about 11.45pm on Wednesday after reports a fire had sparked by an explosion.
Balaram Sapkota, who lives across the road from the house, said he heard people screaming and came outside.
“I just looked at it and it was burning, there were flames coming out of there (on the roof),” Mr Sapkota said.
“It was scary, there was burning and flames.”
Truus Anderson also lives nearby, and said she was woken to the sound of sirens.
“I came outside and saw a lot of smoke,” Ms Anderson said.
The fire was contained within five minutes but the home was extensively damaged.
No-one was home at the time of the blaze.
Police arrested a 41-year-old Glandore man over the fire. He was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The man was charged with arson and has been granted police bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 2.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
DRIVER CAUGHT WITHOUT A LICENCE FOR EIGHT YEARS
A woman has been arrested after police discovered she had been driving without a licence for eight years.
Police stopped the woman who was driving a Volkswagen on Zanker Drive at Mt Barker for a routine traffic check about 11.30am Tuesday.
On investigation, they found the 31-year-old local woman did not have a current driver’s licence. and had nothing recorded in the police system since she held her learner’s permit in June 2013.
The woman was arrested for driving unlicensed, and her car was impounded for a month.
She was bailed to appear in Mt Barker Magistrates Court at a later date.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23
GREEN BIKE BANDIT’S INDECENT ASSAULTS
Police have released a photo of a suspect of two indecent assaults two weeks apart this month in Paralowie and Salisbury in the hope his distinctive bright green bicycle will be recognised.
About 5.30pm, February 4, the female victim was walking along Samuel Street, Paralowie, when she was approached by a man riding a bicycle. He spoke to her briefly before indecently assaulting her and riding away.
The second incident occurred about 5.30pm on February 17 – a female victim was walking along Waterloo Corner Road at Salisbury, when she was approached from behind by a male riding a bicycle. He then indecently assaulted her and rode off.
The male suspect is described as caucasian, aged between 18 and 22 years old, medium build and wearing a grey long-sleeved hooded jumper, black tracksuit pants and white sports shoes.
The bicycle is described as being bright green with black handlebars.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
PAY MACHINE THIEVES ON THE LOOSE
Two men have been captured ramming a pay machine with a car before stealing it at Windsor Gardens, as police appeal to the public for information on the suspects.
The men drove into the service station on North East Road, and tried to remove the pay machine for a car wash using a drill on November 25 about 7.30am.
Their first attempt was unsuccessful, so they reversed a white Peugot sedan with fake number plates into the machine until it became dislodged.
They loaded the boot with the stolen machine and drove off.
A few hours later, the emptied machine was found on Scott Street at Glynde.
The first suspect is described as being of caucasian appearance, with slim build and with long scruffy hair, wearing a cap, sunglasses, a surgical mask, jeans, a T-shirt and thongs.
The second man is described as having a large build, aged in his late 30s with a bald heard. he was wearing a black top, black shorts and sunglasses on the back of his neck.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MAN ARRESTED ON STOLEN MOTORCYCLE
A man has been arrested after he was caught riding a stolen motorcycle at Walkerville on Monday.
Police spotted the speeding motorcyclist on Hampstead road about 2pm Monday, and discovered the Yamaha motorcycle he was riding had been stolen from Prospect earlier this month. The patrol followed the vehicle to the intersection of North East Road and Nottage Terrace, arresting the male rider while he was waiting at the traffic lights.
The man was in possession of knuckledusters.
The 42-year-old Golden Grove man was arrested and charged with illegal use, possessing a prohibited weapon and breaching bail. He was refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22
MAN ARRESTED OVER $500,000 FIRE
A man has been arrested after he allegedly torched a recently renovated real estate agency with a molotov cocktail, causing $500,000 worth of damage, last month.
Harcourts Packham Real Estate on Sturt Road at Marion was well-alight by the time MFS crews arrived at 5am on Sunday, January 17.
Fire Cause Investigators deemed the fire was deliberately lit, after examining the extensively damaged building.
Police arrested a 30-year-old Woodville North man on Saturday, February 20, charging him with aggravated serious criminal trespass, arson and possess a firearm without licence after an imitation shotgun was located.
He was refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
LEARNER DRIVER “ON DRUGS’ LOSES LICENSE
A learner driver allegedly on drugs has lost her licence after speeding nearly 50km/h over the limit near Port Pirie at the weekend.
Police detected a car travelling 146km/h in a 100km/h zone on Saturday about 6pm, on the Augusta Highway near Hope Gap, about 60km south of Port Pirie.
The driver, a 19-year-old Woodcroft woman, returned a positive reading to cannabis when tested.
She was fined $2200 and lost her licence for six months.
MAN DIES IN FARM CRASH
A 56-year-old Forreston man has died in a vehicle crash on an Adelaide Hills farm.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21
TEEN CRITICALLY INJURED IN KENT TOWN CRASH
A teenager is fighting for life after crashing into a tree at Kent Town in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The crash happened at the intersection of Dequetteville Terrace and Wakefield Street, just after 2.30am.
The driver and sole occupant of the car – a 19-year-old male from Highgate – was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with life threatening injuries.
The intersection was closed for several hours as police examined the scene.
HOLDUP SUSPECT ARRESTED
A man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a service station worker and stealing a pack of cigarettes on Saturday night.
Police say the man, 20, of Munno Para, walked into the Kilburn business on Churchill road and assaulted the attendant just after 10pm.
He then allegedly stole a pack of cigarettes before walking out, north on George Street.
The victim, a 59-year-old woman, was treated by ambulance crews for minor injuries.
Police dog Havoc searched the area, but did not locate the 20-year-old suspect.
However, just after 11pm, police noticed the man on Nelson Street and he was allegedly found with the stolen pack of cigarettes.
He was charged with aggravated robbery and theft and was refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
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