MESSAGE FROM THE AREA CO-ORDINATOR - MAY 2013

Hello Neighbours,

One of the pleasures of being involved with Neighbourhood Watch is the opportunity to work with members of the Police Force in obtaining and disseminating information about Crime Statistics and Trends and also to hear about the day to day activities that concern our Police.

In this issue of the Newsletter we are including several items that have been obtained from the “My Police Maryborough” web site. These items are sent out almost daily and include much useful information for us.

While talking about the Police I would like to recognise 2 members who are very helpful to the activities of Area 2 Point Vernon. Sergeant Tracey Meyers supplies the Crime Report Information even though she is involved full time in running the Hervey Bay PCYC. You may have seen recent News photos and TV coverage of her activities in fund raising by “imprisoning” the Mayor and other celebrities. Senior Constable Melanie Ryan is the Crime Prevention Co-ordinator for the Maryborough Police District. She is currently organising the District Neighbourhood Watch Conference which will be held on Saturday 1 June at 8.30 am at the Burrum Heads Community Hall. The theme will be Preparedness for Natural Disasters including next summer. Speakers will include : 1. The SES on what they do and their roles and involvement in disasters. 2. Queensland Fire and Rescue. 3. Mal Churchill from Fraser Coast Regional Council on the outcomes and details of the recent floods. 4. Lisa Peters from Stand By Wide Bay Burnett. She is a social worker and will be talking about Suicide and Prevention.

If you would like to attend just come to our next General Meeting on Tuesday 14 May at 9.30 am at the Big 4 Caravan Park in Corser Street. Or phone 4124 2980.

Finally, I have now turned 80 years of age and will not be standing again for the position of Area Co-ordinator at the Annual General Meeting which will be held on Tuesday 13 August. After 40 years of Community Activity, it is time to turn to other pursuits.

Regards Peter Leney Area Co-ordinator

NEWSLETTER HERVEY BAY 2 POINT VERNON

MAY 2013

DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in this n e w s l e t t e r a r e n o t necessarily the views of the Community Watch Unit or the Police Service unless so quoted and authorised.

We are Area 2

CONTACTS

Area Coordinator

Peter Leney

4124 2980

Assistant Area

Coordinator

Rob Cross

4124 2247

Treasurer

Judy Killer

4124 2478

Minutes Secretary

Mary McDonald

4128 1723

Newsletter Editor

Peter Leney

4124 2980

POLICE

4123 8111

CRIME STOPPERS

1800 333 000

SES

132500

Policelink

131 444

Area Map

Hervey Bay Area 2

Point Vernon

WHAT IS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH?

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) is a program organised by the community in order to reduce residential crime. It is free to all residents in a Neighbourhood Watch Area.

It is about working together as a community to improve personal safety and household security. Most importantly, it is about encouraging interaction and a sense of responsibility between neighbours and communities.

NHW is not a police program. Police lend their expertise in organising and training NHW Committee members and provide a police NHW Liaison office to attend meetings where possible.

Page 2

Important Numbers

Always in an Emergency

Dial 000

Policelink 131444

Police 41238 111

Ambulance 131 233

Fire Brigade 4125 2133

Crime Stoppers 1800 333000

Fraser Coast Regional Council 1800 881400

Home Assist Secure Hervey Bay 4197 4332

Lifeline (Counselling) Hervey Bay 4191 3100

Hervey Bay Hospital 4120 6666

Electricity (Ergon) 131 046

Hervey Bay Taxi Cabs 131 008

My Doctor……………………………………

My Neighbours………………………………

SECURITY – GENERIC SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

It is not always necessary to spend a lot of money to secure your home. Most house break-ins are crimes of opportunity, with entry often gained through an open or unlocked door or window. By developing and maintaining good safety habits, such as using the security you already have, you can go a long way to improving your home security.

Suggested strategies include:

Get to know your neighbours. Exchange telephone numbers and 'keep an eye out' for each other's homes. Neighbours can decrease prowling, loitering and burglary by being observant and reporting suspicious people or vehicles to police .

When you are home, lock doors and windows in areas of the home that are unoccupied.

When leaving the house, secure it by closing and locking all doors and windows. Keys should be removed from internal doors and windows when you are not at home.

When you are out, give your house the `lived in' look by leaving a light on and radio/television playing. Timing devices are effective for this purpose. Turn down the telephone so it doesn't indicate that no one is at home.

Ensure your house is visible to neighbours and passers-by so that any offenders may be observed.

Keep cash and valuables out of easy reach and out of sight. Avoid leaving notes on the door as they suggest that no one is at

home. Avoid leaving a house key under the door mat, pot plant,

letterbox or any other obvious place. Ensure your house number is clearly visible so

emergency services can find your house quickly in an emergency.

Mark valuable property by engraving or taking photos. In an emergency always ring Triple Zero (000). Use the

speed dial of your telephone to store other important numbers

For more detailed home and property security advice, such as information about doors, windows and alarms, contact your local police Crime Prevention Coordinator on 41238141

A Good Neighbour can be as effective as a Police Patrol in protecting your home while you’re away AND ……REMEMBER… If you come home and find someone in your home or someone has broken into your home, DO NOT ENTER, do not touch anything, go next door and call the Police.

Your Anonymity is the Key Feature of the

CRIME STOPPERS SYSTEM

Phone 1800 333 000

AVOID COMPUTER CRIME

Police are reminding the public to remain vigilant and be computer wise to avoid becoming the victim of computer based crime.

Offenders are becoming more organised and efficient and are often overseas based. They are not only keeping up with technology, but are often one step ahead of it in order to steal your money.

Phishing emails or Malware software are common ways for offenders to obtain the details they need to access your banking accounts.

A phishing email often looks like a genuine email sent from your bank and could even include official logos. They will ask you to enter or confirm your banking or account details to keep your account activated or current. Another method can involve you being directed to an online form which asks you to fill in personal details.

Banks will not send emails like this to you. No matter how genuine it may look, do not respond. Deleting any email from your account as soon as it arrives will help prevent you from becoming a victim.

Malware software is often attached to emails which are sent in bulk by the offenders. The software is activated when you open the email and/or an attachment associated with that email. It will then `hunt' through your computer looking for personal details, account numbers and passwords to send back to the offender. Malware may also lay dormant on your computer until activated at a later time.

In order to ensure you don't become a victim of these scams, install reputable anti-virus software and delete emails received from those you don't know. Do not reply and do not give out your personal details to anyone over the internet unless it is a source you know and trust.

For more information on computer scams currently circulating, please visit www.scamwatch.gov.au.

COME TO OUR NEXT GENERAL MEETING

WHERE? Big 4 Point Vernon Caravan Park, 26 Corser Street Point Vernon

DATE? Tuesday 14th May 2013

TIME? 9.30am

WHAT ? GENERAL MEETING

Maryborough Police District Website

http://www.mypolice.qld.gov.au/maryborough

We urge you to connect with the above new website.

Police will now be walking the digital beat which will enable them to connect with the community via technology such as Computers, Smart Phones and other internet devices. You may be interested to know that we are considering a move to also publish the Area 2 Newsletter via an email direct to you. This will involve the need to establish those of our over 750 members who are on-line and who would like to receive the newsletter via an email. If you would like to comment on this proposal, please email Rob Cross at robfranc@bigpond.net.au

Lock it or lose it – Property security tips There are a number of measures people can adopt to protect their property:

• Make locking external doors and windows a habit, even when you are in your premises or out in the yard. Those who occupy multi-storey dwellings should be aware that offenders can gain access by climbing balconies

• Ensure any doors or windows left open for ventilation during the summer months have the necessary security devices fitted

• Objectively view your premises and conduct a basic security survey. Identify vulnerable areas and increase security where necessary

• Take an inventory for all items of value including electrical goods, recording their brand, colour, model and serial number

• Photograph your valuables and size jewellery against a ruler or match box to assist in determining size

• To deter thieves engrave or mark your property with a code made up of your initials, your date of birth as six digits and Q forQueensland. Police can record this code on their computer system to assist in property recovery

• Install security sensor lights and fit appropriate locks especially to those doors or windows hidden from public view

• Place items such as cash, wallets, laptops and mobile phones out of sight, as these can be easily targeted, quick to remove and dispose of by offenders

• Make sure tools and ladders are kept in a secure place – offenders often use garden equipment and wheelie bins to break into premises

• Car owners should ensure their vehicle is always locked and secured, even at home, with any valuables such as GPS placed out of sight

Additional information can be located at the Queensland Police Service web sit at www.police.qld.gov.au, then look under ‘programs’ and ‘Community Safety and Crime Prevention’.

13HOON

Call 13hoon or submit on our on line HOON REPORT - With your help we can end hooning on our streets.

Why 13HOON?

13HOON (13 4666) was launched on 13 December 2010 to provide Queenslanders with an easy to remember central contact point to report drivers performing dangerous, reckless or anti-social behaviour on our roads.

Prefer to report on-line?

If you prefer to report on-line click on the following link – Hoon report

What is hooning?

Hooning may include donuts, drifting, fishtails, revving of engines, screeching brakes, skidding, burn outs, time trials/street racing and rolling road blocks.

What are the dangers of hooning?

Hooning behaviour, even performed at low speeds, may cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle, leave the roadway and collide with a fixed object or a pedestrian.

The speeds associated with street racing coupled with driver inexperience can lead to fatalities.

How do I report hooning?

To report a hooning offence, observe the behaviour and note details such as vehicle registration, vehicle characteristics, time and location of the illegal activity and a description of the behaviour.

When you call 13HOON, a trained call taker will record your details and relay the information to police for follow up.

For hooning incidents currently underway and where there is no immediate danger to anyone by having police attend, your information will be forwarded to a Police Communications Centre to task police for response.

A Big Thank you to the proprietors of the

BIG 4 POINT VERNON HOLIDAY PARK

for providing us with our Meeting Venue and refreshments

This Newsletter is sponsored with thanks, by

MR. TED SORENSEN.

State Member of Parliament for Hervey Bay.

DATE LOCATION OCCURRENCE INVESTIGATION

28/03/2013 Jenny Court, Point Vernon.

Lost Property An Apple Iphone has been lost in the vicinity of Jenny Court, Point Vernon.

17/03/2013 Murphy Street Point Vernon

Traffic Complaint

An important message from Sgt Tracey MEYERS:

It does appear that all NHW Groups in Point Vernon have been enjoying a reprieve for the past few months. readers are thanked for their vigilance and support.

NHW is a successful community group and is obviously working in our area.

Regards

Tracey.

CRIME REPORT NHW 2 POINT VERNON MARCH 2013 COMPILED BY SERGEANT TRACEY MEYERS

Information has been provided to Police regarding Speeding Vehicles in the vicinity of Murphy Street, Point Vernon. Traffic patrols have been increased in the area. Anyone with further information is urged to contact the Police.