Pandemic not enough to halt criminal activity in region

Police have been kept busy during the past fortnight, despite continued calls for people to self-isolate due to COVID-19.

POLICE WORK CONTINUES IN PANDEMIC: Despite the coronavirus, offences are still being committed on the streets of our region. Picture: File.

WHILE many of us are in self-isolation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Monto police have been busy apprehending offenders across the district.

Unlawful entries, drug matters and driving offences have been evident in and around the township, demonstrating that even a contagious virus isn’t enough of a deterrent.

Here are some of the crimes that kept Monto police busy during the past fortnight.

UNSECURED VEHICLES TARGETED

Police report offenders have been targeting unsecured vehicles in the Monto township this month.

Officers received information that on March 14, a car was spotted as offences were committed in the early hours of the morning.

Witnesses say there were at least two offenders spotted in the car, which had a loud exhaust.

Senior Constable Matt Stark from Monto police said the community’s mindset needed to change, and residents needed to secure their vehicles.

“Any extra measures which can be taken to make it more difficult for the offenders to commit these offences may prevent them from occurring,” Snr Const. Stark said.

“Lock it, or lose it.”

DRUG POSSESSION

Six grams of marijuana and a grinder were discovered during a search of a 51-year-woman on March 20.

Monto police took the woman into custody about 11pm that night in relation to other matters.

She was offered a drug diversion program which she will attend at a later date.

DRUG DRIVER IN MULGILDIE

Calliope Road Policing Unit were on patrol on March 22, when they intercepted a white Holden Commodore just after noon for a random drug test.

The 44-year-old Monto woman returned a positive reading at the roadside, and was subsequently transported to the Monto Police Station for an additional test.

Following a the saliva test, the woman was issued with a 24-hour driver’s licence suspension, and issued with a notice to appear in court.

BREAK AND ENTER SUSPECT APPREHENDED

Monto police were called to the Monto Sports Complex on March 23, following a report of a man breaking into a building onsite.

They attended the location to find the man had been detained by other members of the community.

The 21-year-old Monto man was known to police, and was arrested and charged with breaking and entering.

He was later released on bail to appear in the Biloela Magistrates Court on April 15.

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