Whitehorse over Christmas, New Year: drug and drink driving, arson, car crashes, burglary

Drink and drug driving, burglaries, deliberately-lit fires and dangerous car crashes disrupted holiday celebrations in Whitehorse this season.

Police carried out 19,514 breath tests across Whitehorse. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Nearly 80 drivers were caught drink or drug driving on Whitehorse roads during the Christmas and New Year period.

Police carried out 19,514 breath tests across the municipality and a number of drug tests from December 14 until January 6.

A total of 79 drivers were caught driving over limit or under the influence of illicit drugs, while 1719 general driving offences were recorded on the city’s streets.

DRUGS, CASH AND WEAPONS SEIZED IN CLARINDA HOUSE RAIDS

150KG OF CANNABIS FOUND IN HOUSE

YOUTH ARRESTED FOR VERMONT SOUTH, DONVALE INCIDENTS

Whitehorse police said the results were higher than in previous years because there was an increase in tests

Police said the results showed drug offences were as common as drink driving offences, with methamphetamine and cannabis proving to be the drugs most commonly used by drugged drivers.

Across the state, drug offences were found to be much more common than drink driving.

From of the 10,700 drug tests issued, 920 drivers were found to be under the influence of illegal drugs compared to 892 motorists found drink driving from 421,300 breath tests.

Police carried out 19,514 breath tests across Whitehorse. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Police said while there was the usual drop-off in road users after Christmas as people took time out of their routine to holiday, the area didn’t go without incident.

On Saturday, January 5 at 9.45am a 60-year-old Burwood woman was taken to hospital after failing to give way to oncoming traffic.

Police said the woman was turning out of Hastings Ave onto Middleborough Rd in Blackburn South when she collided with a car being driven by a 25-year-old Burwood woman, sending both cars into the fence of a nearby property.

Police said the offending driver was taken to Box Hill Hospital with minor injuries, while both cars were severely damaged, as was the fence.

ELDERLY MEN STALKED, BASHED AND ROBBED

HOUSES STRIPPED OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

SECURITY BOOST AFTER SMASH AND GRAB

The day earlier, police were called to the intersection of Mitcham and Whitehorse roads after a pedestrian was struck by a car about 1pm.

A 33-year-old driver from Templestowe failed to give way to a 51-year-old Mitcham pedestrian as she turned into Whitehorse Rd.

The pedestrian received minor injuries to his arm and was treated by paramedics at the scene, while the driver was given a ticket.

Burglars terrified a 16-year-old girl when she was home alone at her family’s property in Station St, Box Hill on Saturday, January 5 about 8pm.

Police said the girl heard banging at the front door, called her father and locked herself in the bathroom before two men entered the house through the back door.

The men rummaged around the house for five minutes, stealing jewellery and international money, before they were scared off by the girl’s father.

The number of reported drug offences were as high as drink driving offences. Picture: Stewart McLean.

The MFB had to tackle two fires in Whitehorse in the sweltering heat on Friday, January 4.

A 16-year-old boy was home alone in Balmoral St about 2pm when he noticed smoke coming from the house’s central heating outlets and fire in the living room.

He grabbed his dog and his phone before fleeing the burning house and ringing his parents.

The MFB found the fire started when the heating system’s pilot light ignited dry leaves, before the fire travelled through the heating vents and into several rooms.

It caused extensive damage to the house.

Later in the day, police noticed smoke coming from alongside the Eastern Freeway near Lyndhurst Cr in Box Hill North about 3.30pm.

A large grass fire was burning in the dry freeway reserve, close to homes, according to police reports.

The MFB extinguished the fire, which was believed to have been deliberately lit.