Melbourne north and northwest crime: 90-year-old escapes home after lemon tree fire
An elderly woman has escaped her Ascot Vale home unharmed after a lemon tree caught fire, while a Sunshine man was put in a headlock and bashed by two thugs during a frightening armed robbery. See the crimes making news in the north and northwest.
North West
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A 90-year-old woman escaped her home on Federation St in Ascot Vale unharmed after a lemon tree in the backyard caught fire.
Firefighters arrived just before 7pm on December 5 to find the blaze had spread and engulfed a 25sq m shed.
Crews wearing breathing apparatus brought the blaze under control in 40 minutes and stopped it spreading to adjoining properties.
The fire is believed to have been caused by solid BBQ fuel outside the shed.
SUNSHINE
A Sunshine man was put in a headlock and bashed by two thugs during an armed robbery. The 24-year-old was walking with two friends in City Place, Sunshine when they were approached by two strangers about 2.15am on November 6. Leading Senior Constable Melissa Seach said one of the thugs put the man in headlock before making demands for his property. “The other offender produced a weapon believed to be a knife,” she said. “The offenders assaulted the 24-year-old man before stealing his wallet, mobile phone and jacket.” The offenders, described as African in appearance, then ran away. The victim suffered minor injuries. Police have released images of two men who they believe can assist with their investigation.
EPPING / CRAIGIEBURN
Greensborough Highway Patrol are appealing for witness and dashcam footage following a collision in Epping. Police have been told two cars collided on the northbound lanes of the Hume Freeway on December 6 about 10pm. A red Holden Commodore veered off the freeway into the centre wire barrier before swerving back onto the road and hitting a silver Toyota Camry. The 20-year-old Commodore driver returned a positive preliminary breath of 0.137. He was also alleged to have been seen driving erratically and with no headlights prior to the collision along the Metropolitan Ring Road. The Craigieburn man’s licence was immediately suspended and he is expected to be summoned to appear at court at a later date. The three occupants of the Toyota were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or with dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
BROADMEADOWS
Two men on their way home have been robbed by a gang loitering near Broadmeadows train station. A 23-year-old man was targeted in Railway Cres just after midnight on November 27. Hume detective Senior Sergeant Ray Freeman said the man got off a train and was walking along the street when the group attacked from behind. Sen-Sgt Freeman said the thugs stole the man’s phone, wallet and backpack and left him with cuts to his face. “About half and hour later a second victim, who had also got off a train, was walking along Railway Cres when he was approached by about seven men,” he said. “They demanded his phone, wallet, bag and jacket.” Sen-Sgt Freeman said the 26-year-old managed to hold onto his phone and wallet but the group got away with his backpack and reading glasses. He then ran back to the train station and reported the attack to protective services officers. The second man was not injured. Sen-Sgt Freeman said police believed the same group was responsible for both attacks.
SOMERTON
A 40-year-old Roxbugh Park man has been charged with two counts of intentionally causing serious injury, three counts of intentionally cause injury, reckless conduct endangering life and affray after a brawl at a Somerton function centre on December 7. A man was taken to hospital in a serious condition after being allegedly stabbed when a wild brawl broke out at the Somerton La Mirage about 1.50am following a concert by Lebanese pop star Fares Karam. Dramatic footage, aired on Channel 7, showed a man brandishing a kitchen knife lunging at two men, punches thrown and another patron hit over the head with a metal pole. Victoria Police spokeswoman Sgt Julie-Anne Newman said a number of people were reportedly kicked out of the venue prior to the fight. Four of six injured men — who aged in range from their 20s to 50s — were taken to hospital. A 29-year-old man was serious at the Royal Melbourne Hospital while another man, also 29, was stable after surgery at the same hospital. A third man, 33, was also stable at the Royal Melbourne and a fourth man aged in his 40s was stable at the Northern Hospital. Investigations are ongoing.
ST ALBANS
Firefighters were called to a St Albans house fire on December 7. Crews were called to the Leonard Ave property about 4.55pm, following reports of a blaze in the bathroom of the weatherboard house. All occupants safely evacuated before fire crews arrived. Firefighters found the blaze had spread to the roof. They removed roof tiles to gain access and attack the blaze to stop it spreading to neighbouring homes. The cause is yet to be determined.
PASCOE VALE SOUTH
An out-of-control car crashed through a garage door in Waverley Pde, Pascoe Vale South. MFB firefighters were called to the accident just before 7pm on December 6 and arrived to find the car – carrying four occupants – had gone through the door and damaged the front and side wall of a single brick garage. There were no injuries and specialist urban search and rescue crews worked to assess the damage and make the scene safe. A building surveyor also attended, along with police and paramedics. Police investigations determined no action was necessary.
COBURG
Three people escaped a fire after it took hold of a garage attached to a two-storey townhouse in Coburg on December 6. Firefighters were called to the Mayfield St home about 4:30am and arrived to find the garage was fully alight and threatening to spread to the townhouse. Crews wearing breathing apparatus brought the fire under control in 30 minutes. A community advice message was issued due to large amounts of smoke in the area. The fire was not suspicious.
NORTH
The RACV has warned motorists they could face fines of up to $16,500 if the fail to safely secure Christmas trees this festive season. RACV Transport Manager Peter Kartsidimas said trees not secured properly could attract fines between $248 and $16,500. “If you’re buying a ‘real’ Christmas tree this year, consider how you’re going to get it home,” he said. “An incorrectly secured tree can damage a vehicle and can also endanger other road users if it falls off on the way home. “Under Victorian road rules, long loads are not allowed to protrude more than 1.2m from the front or rear of a vehicle. “It is also illegal to have any object protruding more than 50mm or 15cm from the side of your vehicle.
THORNBURY
A sprinkler system has managed to contain a factory fire in Thornbury. About 30 firefighters were called to a storage facility on High St after the sprinkler alarm activated just after 5:30pm on December 9. Crews found the 3200sq m heavily smoke-logged but contained by the sprinkler system. Firefighters ventilated the building and ensured the fire was completely extinguished, with it declared under control within 45 minutes. Police were called to handle traffic management on High St and paramedics monitored the health of firefighters. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
PHEASANT CREEK
A man has died after the car he was driving hit a tree in Pheasant Creek near Kinglake on December 9. It is believed the car left National Park Rd and struck a tree just after 8pm. The driver died at the scene while a male passenger was flown to hospital in a serious condition.
ST ALBANS
Detectives arrested and charged four teens following an assault and robbery on a doctor at St Albans last month. They approached the doctor on Ivy St just after 5pm on November 18, bashing him and taking his phone. The four, all 17, are charged with robbery, handling stolen goods, car theft and other offences.
WALLAN
A Wallan man has been charged with several drug related offences after Clandestine Laboratory Squad detectives raided a house in Elsterwick on December 10. Officers uncovered a clandestine laboratory in Horne St home as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. A 32-year-old Queensland man was charged with manufacturing commercial quantities of drugs of dependence. Two other men, aged 56 from Wallan and 61 from Cranbourne South, were also charged. Both men have been remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court in April next year. A 66-year-old Elsternwick woman and a 52-year-old from Wallan were released with both expected to be charged on summons.
MORE NORTHERN NEWS:
SHOCKING MILL PARK RACIAL ROAD-RAGE TIRADE
HUNT FOR ACCUSED DRUG TRAFFICKER WITH COBURG LINKS
TEEN ROBBED WITH KNIFE NEAR CRAIGIEBURN LIBRARY
PARACHUTER SPENDS SEVEN HOURS STUCK IN TREE
ST ALBANS
A community warning was issued for smoke after a house went up in flames in St Albans. Firefighters were called to Currunghi Court about 12.30pm on December 12 where they found a brick dwelling engulfed in flames. The fire was brought under control in nine minutes with one resident given oxygen by firefighters.
HILLSIDE / CAIRNLEA
Police have seized commercial quantities of drugs, cash, jewellery, luxury goods and a 2019 model SUV during raids in Hillside and Cairnlea. Detectives from Joint Taskforce Icarus and Taskforce Trident searched homes in Montpellier Drive, Hillside and Winnunga Road, Cairnlea on December 12 as part of an investigation into alleged drug trafficking. A 37-year-old Hillside man was arrested and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of MDMA and twelve trafficking offences relating to methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. He has been remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 10 next year. The five-month investigation related to the alleged trafficking of methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA through the domestic mail system.
COOLAROO
A large shed filled with recycling paper waste went up in flames in Maffra St, Coolaroo on December 13. Firefighters were called to the 1200sq m shed just after 10pm. They entered the heavily smoked logged shed wearing breathing apparatus and brought the fire under control in 15 minutes. The cause of the fire was not suspicious.