Tasmania breaking news: Five teens charged over convenience store hold up in Hobart’s CBD
Police have charged five teens over a convenience store hold up in Hobart’s CBD, alleging the crew were armed with a knife and baton. Details.
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Teens among five charged over attempted armed robbery
November 13, 2:42pm
Three underage teens are among a group of five charged with armed robbery offences, after a convenience store hold up in Hobart’s CBD.
The youths, two aged 16 and one aged 15, along with two adults, both aged 18, allegedly confronted the worker, and demanded cigarettes and cash before midnight.
Police allege the group left empty-handed, but returned later, wielding a knife and a baton.
It’s alleged the five left with a “significant” amount of cash and cigarettes.
Police apprehended the group on Monday morning and all were charged.
One adult and the three youths are set to appear in count tonight, and the second adult is due to appear on December 20.
Anyone who might have witnessed a grey Holden Cruz in the Greater Hobart area is urged to come forward.
Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Street reopened after CBD chemist evacuation
November 12
A pair of abandoned headphones sparked the evacuation of a Hobart CBD chemist on Sunday afternoon, with the investigation of the “suspect article” resulting in police closing the street.
Tasmania Police evacuated the chemist at 71 Bathurst St, which is the premises of the Your Hobart Doctor GP.
While officers first asked that pedestrians and motorists avoid the area, Bathurst St was later closed, and an exclusion zone of 30 metres was imposed while police responded to the incident
Tasmania Police in a statement said the incident was “isolated” to the chemist and that they had evacuated employees while an “unattended bag” was examined.
No threats were reported in relation to the matter.
The road was reopened at about 4pm, and just before 5pm police confirmed the “device” was actually a pair of headphones which had been left “inadvertently” at the premises and therefore presented “no risk” to the public.
“Inquiries are being made to locate the owner of the bag to have it returned to them,” Tasmania Police said.
About 10 people had gathered on the corner of Bathurst and Argyle Sts while police dealt with the situation.
Several Red Cross life blood staff were among those who had been forced to evacuate the workplace.
The blood bank was due to close at 2.30pm, but staff had to wait to be given the all clear to return inside.
Police vehicles blocked either end of the exclusion zone, and in the centre – outside of the clinic – was parked a large white unmarked van.
A doctor, who was due to start work at the medical practice, was also waiting unable to access a work vehicle.
At least five police officers were on the scene directing pedestrians and curious onlookers away from the area.
Sexual Assault Support Service acting CEO Sandi Doherty was forced to abandon a wellbeing course for victim survivors of sexual assault because of the road closure.
Search suspended for missing swimmer
Latest, November 13, 8.45am:
A decision has been made to suspend the search for the 22 year old missing woman at Somerset.
The deployment of police divers and the Westpac Rescue helicopter, together with Marine Rescue assets from Ulverstone and Tamar, Surf Patrol Units from Boat Harbour, Somerset, Burnie, Penguin and Ulverstone have been unable to locate the missing person.
Expert opinion has indicated that the missing person could not have survived, after she went missing while swimming at Somerset Beach yesterday.
Inspector Shadbolt said, “Significant and intense search efforts by all involved in the search over the previous two days in the search zone have sadly, failed to locate the missing person.”
“Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”
Earlier November 12, 3.45pm: Significant police and rescue resources are scouring a 200sq nautical mile area in search of a young woman who was swimming with her siblings before being swept out in a rip.
Volunteer boats, Surf Life Saving Tasmania personnel, Tasmania police and other vessels are currently searching the area for the 22-year-old woman, who went missing while swimming at Somerset Beach on Saturday morning.
The woman, of Burnie, had been swimming with her 26-year-old sister and nine-year-old brother when she became caught in a rip.
Her siblings were able to escape the current.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and police divers are also involved in the search.
Tasmania Police say the search area had been plotted using “local knowledge of currents” and data from an ocean buoy.
Tasmania Police Inspector Adrian Shadbolt said the number of volunteers assisting the search was “phenomenal”.
“We maintain hope but the sad reality is we are now in a search and recovery operation,” Inspector Shadbolt said.
He said Somerset Beach could have “very challenging conditions with strong currents” and urged swimmers to stay alert of local conditions.
“If you are swimming at a patrolled beach, please swim between the flags. If it’s not patrolled checked conditions at https://www.slst.asn.au/be-safe/beach-safe/”
Earlier, November 12, 9.00am: Police will today continue their search for a young female swimmer who went missing off Somerset Beach.
The woman, aged 22, was last seen at 2pm on Saturday, while having difficulty in strong currents.
A search including Surf Life Saving Tasmania, a Police vessel, a TasPorts vessel and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was undertaken and will resume today.
Police are set to speak to the media later this morning to provide an update.
November 11, 3.30pm: A massive search has been launched to locate a missing swimmer who disappeared shortly after 2pm in the state’s North-West.
Police issued a short statement just after 3.30pm.
“Police are currently co-ordinating a search for a missing swimmer in the area of the Somerset Surf Lifesaving Club near the Cam River at Somerset,” it said.
“Shortly after 2pm a female in her 20s was observed to be in difficulty in strong currents.
“Surf Life Saving, Tasmania Police and TasPorts currently have vessels searching the area.
“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has also been dispatched.”
Charges laid in police station ramming, speed trailer damage incidents
November 9, 11.13am: A Clarendon Vale man has been hauled to court after allegedly ramming a Tasmanian police station earlier this year.
The 26-year-old man was charged with destroying property, in relation to the ramming of the Clarence Plains police station on April 8 this year.
He was arrested on Wednesday after Bellerive CIB and southern uniform police executed a search warrant at a Clarendon Vale property.
They allegedly found multiple items of stolen property there.
Police allege the man reversed a vehicle into the front doors of the station, causing $12,000 in damage.
It will also be alleged that the man used a vehicle to damage multiple speed detection trailers in October and November while disqualified from driving.
The station was unoccupied at the time.
Tasmania Police disqualified the man from driving at the time of the incident.
He was charged with property, driving and fraud offences and was held in custody for an appearance in Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.
Fire that destroyed ‘unoccupied’ home investigated
November 7, 9.40am: An investigation has been launched into a fire which completely destroyed an “unoccupied” home north of Richmond.
Tasmania Police are investigating the fire, which levelled the dwelling on White Kangaroo Rd, Campania, in the early hours of Monday morning.
Emergency services including TFS and police were called to the residence at about 12.40am.
While on the scene, fireys found the dwelling “fully engulfed” by flames.
“Fire crews worked to extinguish the fire; however, the residence was completely destroyed,” Tasmania Police said in a statement.
Nobody was injured in the fire, and the residence was unoccupied at the time.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation by Bellerive CIB,” Tasmania Police said.
Those with information regarding the fire, or any suspicious activity in the area, is asked to contact police on 6173 2641 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote OR727264.
Information can be provided anonymously.
Bridge crash slows Hobart traffic to a crawl
November 7, 9.40am: Hobart traffic has slowed to a crawl after a multi-car crash on the Tasman Bridge this morning.
The peak hour morning commute was stalled all the way down Macquarie St after three cars rear-ended one another on the Tasman Bridge, just before 8am.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash, but those travelling from South Hobart experienced extended delays on the road.
The crash brought traffic to a standstill on Macquarie St which caused lengthy delays for commuters travelling into the city from the southern suburbs.
Traffic was backed up on the Southern Outlet inbound to the Mt Nelson turn-off at Tolmans Hill and beyond.
There were also long lines of vehicles backed up on Sandy Bay Rd.
Commuters also reported delays getting into the city from the northern suburbs along the Brooker Highway.
One commuter reported that it took half an hour to get from the top of the Southern Outlet into the city.
Charges laid after man set off illegal fireworks
November 6, 2:55pm: A Zeehan man, who was charged after he allegedly set off illegal fireworks, went home after his arrest and set off more, police say.
Police initially arrested the man over the fireworks on Sunday evening, after the alleged illegal pyrotechnics went up over Zeehan homes.
After he was charged, police say, fireworks went up a second time.
Police searched the man’s house, allegedly seizing a quantity of fireworks, which led to the man being arrested and charged again.
Tasmania Police Senior Sergeant James Scicluna said authorities were alerted to the unauthorised display by community members.
“Not only do fireworks disturb other residents, they also put properties at risk, with the potential to start fires,” he said.
Permits are needed for fireworks in Tasmania.
The man will appear at the Queenstown Magistrates Court in January.
Truck rollover causes road closure
November 6, 2:45pm: An eastern shore street has been closed to traffic after a truck rolled.
Tasmania Police and other emergency service crews were called to Belar St, Howrah, in response to the incident.
In a statement, Tasmania Police said no serious injuries had been reported.
“Motorists should avoid the area until the road is clear,” Tasmania Police said in a statement.
Fireys battle separate blazes overnight
November 6, 2:30pm: Tasmania Fire Service were called to two separate fires overnight, one of which caused $60,000 in damages to a shed and the other damaging a house.
TFS crews were called to a shed fire at a Blair St, Lutana property at half past 11 on Sunday night.
A TFS spokeswoman on Monday afternoon said the cause of the fire had been deemed “undetermined” at this stage.
“A further investigation will be ongoing,” the spokeswoman said.
The fire is said to have caused $60,000 worth of damage to the shed.
A few hours later, at 12.45am on Monday, six crews attended a house fire at White Kangaroo Rd, Campania.
“TFS received a triple-0 call alerting them to a house fire … Richmond brigade observed flames from that vicinity when going mobile from their station,” a TFS statement read.
“Upon arrival, crews from Campania, Richmond and Colebrook found a house fully involved.”
At 2pm on Monday, crews were still on the scene, with the fire investigation yet to commence after a few “hot spots” continued to flare.
Man in custody after serious Salamanca assault
November 5, 4:25pm: A 24 year old Lenah Valley man is in police custody after an alleged assault in Salamanca after four o’clock in the morning.
Police say a man in his 20s was seriously assaulted, and left with head injuries at Salamanca Place.
The man was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital and his injuries are believed to be non life threatening.
Police are yet to lay charges over the incident.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.
Man rescued from bushland after being trapped in vehicle
November 5, 6:27am: A man has been taken to hospital after he was rescued from remote bushland while trapped in his vehicle.
The man, aged in his 50s, was successfully retrieved from the bushland located south of Waratah and taken to the North West Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Emergency services crews including police were called to the “remote” scene, east of the Meredith Ranges, at 7.30pm on Saturday night.
It was initially reported that a man had become trapped after a tree hit his vehicle, but when crews arrived they worked out the man had instead suffered a medical episode.
He was evacuated by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Originally published as Tasmania breaking news: Five teens charged over convenience store hold up in Hobart’s CBD
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