Visitors well behaved over holidays

MANSFIELD’S large influx of visitors to the shire over the holiday period did not bring in a significant increase in crime according to police, keeping in line with the region’s low crime rate. Instead police are continuing investigations into three criminal damage cases in the area. One involved front windows smashed on two different occasions with a jar of peanut butter and a jar of beans. “We are looking for relevant CCTV and if anyone's got information, please contact us,” Mansfield’s Senior Sergeant Steve Carden said. “We have sent the jars for forensic examination.” Another involved graffiti of seven real estate signs in the district. “We believe they were done by the same person and investigations are well underway to identify the offender,” Snr Sgt Carden said. The final case saw two different letterboxes stolen from homes in the area on New Year’s Eve. “As both were stolen at the same time, we believe it was perpetrated by the same person,” Snr Sgt Carden said. “We have also accessed CCTV footage but if anyone has any information, please come forward.” In tourist hotspots in the area, things were calm. Snr Sgt Carden said the focus was on road policing with Operation Roadwise running over Christmas and New Years for 18 days. “From our stations here and in Jamieson and Woods Point there were 2200 breath tests performed over the 18 days,” he said. “Three people tested positive to drink driving and 21 were caught speeding as well as a few other offences. “Thankfully we did not have any fatalities within the shire.” However, one fatality occurred on the Euroa-Mansfield Road on Christmas Eve after two motorcycles collided near Euroa. It was reported a 77-year-old Lemnos man received life-threatening injuries and was flown to hospital, but later died. The pillion passenger, as well as the other rider and his passenger, suffered varying levels of injuries. The motorcyclist was the third person to die on the Euroa Mansfield Road in 2023, with crashes in July and November claiming people’s lives. Since November, the speed limit was reduced on a 5km section of the road at Gooram, however the Christmas Eve crash did not occur on that stretch. Joint patrols worked on the Delatite Arm Reserve with DEECA and Parks Victoria to keep public order in check, with increased coordination planned for the Australia Day long weekend. Snr Sgt Carden once again reminded those on farms to secure their property after another shed burglary in Bonnie Doon. He said three motorbikes and a chainsaw were stolen. “The Benalla Crime Investigation unit is investigating that and another shed burglary in Benalla," said Snr Sgt Carden. “People are using specific tools to commit these crimes. “Once again, people should lock up their sheds as best they can. “It is also good to have identifying marks on your property. “Motorbikes are registered and we can get information on those but even on chainsaws; have their serial numbers registered and even put your name on there somewhere. “If we come across somebody with a whole heap of tools in the car with all different names on them - that allows us to suspect they are the proceeds of crime and investigate.”