Tasmania breaking news: Car stolen by armed thieves at Devonport
A car has been stolen by two men, one armed with a gun, as a chopper search is launched to find the perpetrators. LATEST
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Grand theft auto: Car stolen by armed thieves, chopper search underway
August 13, 5.30pm: A car has been stolen by two men, one armed with a gun, in Tasmania’s North-West as a chopper search is launched to find the perpetrators.
Tasmania Police say a black 2003 Mazda MX5 with white wheels and Victorian registration 1VX4DA was stolen from Victoria Street, Devonport about 3.20pm on Sunday.
It was reported to police that the car was stolen by two men, one of which was armed with a firearm.
Police, along with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, are currently scouring the area for the car.
It was last seen in the area of Smith and Others Road near Sassafras about 4.30pm.
Authorities urge anyone who has seen the car to not approach its occupants and report to police immediately on 131 444.
More to come.
‘Multiple triple zero calls’: House engulfed in flames
August 13, 3.10pm: A house on Tasmania’s South-East coast has gone up in flames, with firefighters scrambling to extinguish the ferocious blaze.
About 2.30pm on Sunday, Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service say they were inundated with “multiple triple zero calls” before dispatching crews to the scene on Penna Rd at Midway Point.
Upon arrival, the house was well alight, Tasmania Fire and Emergency Service say.
Firefighters are working to bring the fire under control.
It is not yet clear what caused the blaze.
More to come.
Man flown interstate after stabbing
August 13: A man has been flown to Victoria for urgent medical treatment after he was stabbed at King Island.
Tasmania Police say the Currie man, 28, was stabbed after an altercation with a person known to him on Saturday night.
He was flown to Victoria with non-life-threatening injuries for treatment in hospital.
A woman is assisting police with their enquiries.
On-duty Tasmania Police officer charged with assault
August 12: A Tasmania Police officer has been charged with common assault and will face court in October.
A 31-year-old male constable from the Western District is due to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on October 27, having been served with a summons to appear on a charge of common assault. police said in a brief statement.
The offence is alleged to have been committed at Burnie on January 29.
“The officer was on-duty at the time of the incident,” a police spokeswoman said.
“He has been placed on non-operational duties.
“It is not appropriate to make any further comment given the matter is now before the court.”
$100,000-plus worth of damage: Youth charged with window smashing spree
August 11, 9.30am: A youth has fronted court over an alleged window smashing spree in the state’s North-West, where the damage surpassed $100,000.
The 15-year-old faced an out-of-hours Youth Justic Court on Thursday night, charged with 11 counts of destroying property, one count of stealing and one count of assaulting a police officer.
The destroying properties relate to a string of shopfront windows being smashed in on Wilmot St at Burnie overnight on August 9.
The total cost of damage factored in a car at a private residence, which had also been smashed in the spree.
Multi-car pile-up causes afternoon traffic mayhem
August 11: Police and emergency services have responded to a multi-vehicle crash on one of Tasmania’s busiest highways, plunging afternoon traffic into chaos.
The crash happened at the intersection of the Brooker Hwy and Risdon Rd at Moonah about 3.45pm on Thursday.
All Hobart-bound lanes on the Glenorchy side of the intersection are blocked.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area or anticipate delays until the scene is cleared.
Injuries are not yet known.
More to come.
Ill-equipped hikers slammed
August 7: Search and Rescue Police have expressed their frustration at ill-equipped hikers after two men were rescued from Cradle Mountain Tuesday night.
Emergency services were alerted to the Burnie locals who had become stuck in “extremely steep” terrain at the national park before 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Police say the two had minimal food and water and no equipment to spend the night in case of emergency.Tasmania Police western search and rescue officer Steve Jones said it was “incredibly frustrating” for police to repeat warnings.
“The rescue helicopter is a vital service, and available for genuine emergencies,” Inspector Jones said.
“Bushwalkers should always prepare for the worst, and while the weather was great yesterday, that can change rapidly.
“Our emergency service personnel often put their own lives at risk during rescues, so it is frustrating when the situation could have been avoided.”
The pair, who had a mobile phone, contacted emergency services, resulting in rescue officers and Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedics guiding the walkers back to safety.
Parks and Wildlife Services personnel also aided in the operation.
“It was a sunny, clear day at Cradle Mountain, and had the two walkers not gone off track, they would not have got lost,” Inspector Jones said.
Police are urging all bushwalkers to follow essential safety tips such as researching trips, informing others of travels, being prepared for all conditions and carrying a personal locator beacon and mobile phone.
Bikie blitz: Guns, stolen cars, drugs and cash seized in raid
August 8, 10:31am: A bikie from Southern Tasmania is facing a string of charges after a raid on his property yielded a cache of guns, stolen cars, drugs and cash.
The 56-year-old Derwent Valley man was arrested last week during Taskforce Morpheus operations, part of a national widespread crackdown on Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) related activity.
A raid on the man’s property uncovered a trafficable quantity of drugs, two stolen motor vehicles, two illegal replica firearms, cash and a significant amount of stolen property, police say.
The man faces a total of 23 charges. The Mercury has contacted Tasmania Police to ascertain what the charges were, and when the man is due to face court.
“Tasmania Police works closely with partner agencies to target and disrupt OMCG activities, because we recognise the threat that these gangs present to community safety,” Assistant Commissioner Rob Blackwood said.
“Strong laws banning consorting and the wearing of OMCG colours were introduced in Tasmania in 2018, and this has been significant in helping us disrupt their effect on the wider community.”
Commencing in September 2014, national Taskforce Morpheus is a working group established under the Serious and Organised Crime Coordination Committee.
Last week’s Tasmania-based operations were led by Tasmania Police’s Crime and Intelligence Command, as well as officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), dog handlers and firearms experts from across the state.
Anyone with information about OMCG activity is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au.
More to come.
‘Abnormally busy’: Four house fires in a single day in Tasmania
August 7, 9am: A total of eight people across Tasmania have been treated for smoke inhalation across four discrete fires, with investigators set to determine the cause of three of the fires on Monday.
A Tasmania Fire Service spokeswoman described the organisation’s Sunday as “abnormally busy,” as it responded to house fires at Bellerive, George Town, and two at New Norfolk.
On Sunday night at 9.35pm, TFS received reports of a fire on the upper-level of an Alexandra Esp, Bellerive residence, with crews from Clarence and Hobart dispatched.
Occupants of the house, which sustained “significant damage,” had evacuated prior to the arrival of TFS, and two people were treated on-scene by Ambulance Tasmania paramedics for smoke inhalation.
Earlier, at 6.07pm, crews from George Town responded to reports of a fire at Andrew St.
The TFS spokeswoman said that upon arrival “flames were coming from the rear of the house,” which the occupants had evacuated prior to the crews’ arrival.
One patient was treated on-scene for smoke inhalation.
At 4.11pm, crews from New Norfolk, Magra and Bridgewater responded to a fire at Charlotte St, New Norfolk, the town’s second significant house fire of the day.
“The front of the property was going well on arrival,” the TFS spokeswoman said, and it sustained “significant damage”.
Two patients were treated on-scene for smoke inhalation and a “fire watch” was conducted overnight to ensure the property did not reignite.
Fire investigators are set ti investigate the causes of these three fires, and determine the damage caused, on Monday morning.
The Mercury previously reported on the first house fire on Sunday, which was reported at 9.48am.
Crews from Magra and New Norfolk attended Britten St, New Norfolk, where smoke was issuing from a dwelling. The fire was doused by firefighters wearing breathing apparatuses, who entered the residence to combat the internal fire.
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, and it was assessed as causing $50,000 worth of damage.
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