Tasmania Police search for Bodie Savage and Robert Greig
Tasmania Police have deployed a helicopter to search bushland in Greater Hobart as they continue to search for a court escapee. See the rolling coverage.
Police & Courts
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Police have deployed a helicopter to search bushland near Pass Road as the search for Hobart Magistrates Court escapee, Bodie Savage continues.
Officers swarmed bush areas near Clarendon Vale on Saturday morning, frantically searching for the escapee.
Police vehicles barricaded the area near Pass Road, while on-ground officers deployed dirt bikes to search the rough terrain.
Mr Savage is believed to be wearing a camouflage jacket, track pants and a dark road helmet and on a red trail bike.
Residents are advised to call police on 13144 if they see Mr Savage or any suspicious activity.
Police continue manhunt for two fugitives
Tasmania Police are coming up empty-handed as they continue to search for a wild gunman and a court escapee who both remain on the loose after separate incidents.
On Thursday police said they were expanding their search to various locations in Southern Tasmania as shooter Robert George Greig continues to evade capture.
Police have launched a dedicated task force to investigate the shooting of two police vehicles near New Norfolk on Monday night.
Commander Tim Dooley said early ballistics analysis suggested at least one of the bullets penetrated the car and passed through the cabin, narrowly missing the officers inside.
Meanwhile, he said other police officers were out gathering evidence and searching for clues to hunt down the 33-year-old fugitive.
“Police continued our search of a number of houses and properties in the Brighton and Elderslie areas overnight in a bid to locate Mr Greig and the blue Holden Colorado 4WD registration YD08IP,” he said.
“We can’t discount the possibility that the vehicle may have been modified with some parts repainted with an undercoat grey colour.”
Police are attempting to block Mr Greig from leaving Tasmania while they search the island.
Court escapee Bodie Savage also remains elusive after escaping Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Savage fled the courthouse after being sentenced to a term in prison and has eluded police officers since.
Fugitive’s charges revealed
Thursday morning: The Mercury can reveal what charges a fugitive was facing in court before he fled and instigated a wide scale police search in Hobart yesterday.
Bodie Savage allegedly ran from the Hobart Magistrates Court after being sentenced to a period of imprisonment.
The 30-year-old from Clarendon Vale was later spotted multiple times by members of the public, with the police searching the waterfront, Salamanca, city and Battery Point.
It’s been revealed Savage was facing court for 19 charges.
His charges included ten counts of stealing, three counts of drive whilst not the holder of a driver's licence, two counts of drive a motor vehicle whilst prescribed illicit drug is present in oral fluid and one count each of possession of unlawful property, use unregistered motor vehicle, use motor vehicle with no premium cover and dishonestly alter or display a plate in a way calculated to deceive.
Tasmania Police are continuing their search for Savage today.
Hobart waterfront busy with police
Wednesday evening: Hobart’s waterfront descended into chaos yesterday as swarms of police officers frantically searched for a man who fled court after being sentenced to prison.
The man escaped from the Hobart Magistrates Court and was captured on CCTV fleeing the complex wearing a black hooded jumper and tracksuit pants.
He later ditched the hoodie and police responded to multiple sightings by the public around the waterfront, Salamanca, the city and Battery Point after releasing his photo.
A Westpac helicopter also joined the hours-long search, as well as uniformed and plain-clothed police officers and detectives as they searched the floating restaurants by the wharves, inside holds of boats and the surrounding waters in inflatable punts.
Lee Chhin was on her way to Mako Seafood to buy some seafood when she saw the police officers searching the floating fishmongers.
Ms Chhin said she didn’t know how to feel when she heard there was a criminal on the loose.
“It really depends — if he’s killed someone it’s scary, but if it’s a normal crime then I think it’s okay,” Ms Chhin said.
“I mostly come here to buy some fish and crabs.”
Fishmonger Troy Nichols said the escapee might have been hiding in the underground network of wooden pillars near Macq1 and Macq2.
Mr Nichols said as a kid he would explore the underside of the wharf by crawling on the wooden pillars on all fours.
“You’d pull up on a dinghy, you tie the dinghy off, and you’d go under,” he said.
“Whenever we saw the tide coming up, we’d be right out of there.”
Police are continuing to search for the man — and while they say he is not considered to be a risk to the public, police are asking community members not to approach him.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au.
Young boy set alight in Tasmanian suburb
Police, ambulance and fire services were called out to a scene where a young boy was allegedly set alight by someone known to him in Herdsman Cove about 5pm Tuesday.
Police believe he suffered burns to his leg and is in a stable condition.
It is unknown whether the fire was deliberately lit.
Illegal timber harvesting in Huon Valley nets 10 people
Ten people have been caught committing woodcutting offences during a joint operation targeting the illegal harvesting of timber in the Huon Valley, Tasmania Police have confirmed.
“Tasmania Police and Sustainable Timber Tasmania have been conducting a joint operation targeting the illegal harvesting of timber in the Huon region to decrease the instances of such thefts,” Sergeant Simon Ward said.
“To date, action has commenced against 10 individuals identified through surveillance and targeted patrols, in relation to illegal woodcutting activities.
“The joint operation is ongoing and will utilise a number of strategies, including covert surveillance, to identify any further individuals involved in these activities.”
Tasmania Police reminded people when collecting firewood that you must either do it on your own land, have permission from the landowner or have a permit from Forestry Tasmania.
In all other cases, it is classified as stealing and anyone detected may face charges of stealing, trespass or unlawful possession as well as forfeiture of the wood.
Cars targeted in Battery Point
Tasmania Police have charged an 18-year-old man after 17 vehicles were targeted in a spate of burglaries in Battery Point overnight.
Police said the man was arrested in the early hours of this morning, and an amount of stolen property was recovered.
“At this stage, police have identified 17 vehicles that were targeted and investigators are asking Battery Point residents to check whether they have been affected.
“The man has been charged with attempted motor vehicle stealing, burglary, stealing and other offences.”
He is due to appear in court on November 9.
“Members of the public are reminded to always ensure parked and unattended vehicles are locked and secured, and to avoid leaving any visible property inside,” police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on crimestopperstas.com.au.
Herdsmans Cove fire ‘deliberately lit’
Police are investigating what they say was a deliberately lit fire at Herdsmans Cove overnight.
About 9.30pm Sunday night, firefighters and police were called to the unoccupied property on Fisher Drive, arriving to find the residence well alight.
Investigators have deemed the fire to be deliberately lit, with police now investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgewater Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers.
High Street motorcycle crash
Police are seeking dashcam footage or any witnesses to a motorcycle crash on High Street, East Launceston about 8pm on Tuesday, September 6.
The man riding the yellow and dark blue Honda CBR motorcycle rider was taken to the Launceston General Hospital by members of the public and underwent treatment for minor injuries.
Police are seeking assistance from anyone who witnessed the crash, has dashcam footage of the motorcycle prior to the crash, or who took the man to hospital before emergency services arrived on scene.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Launceston CIB on 6777 3981 or Crime Stoppers.
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