Times & MAFF FR RA R A SPECTA CTATOR OR
74 Macalister Street, Sale WEATHER
TUESDAY, 16 JULY, 2024
Tuesday Mostly sunny - Min:- Min: 4 Max: 14 13 Wednesday Showers easing 6 Max:
LOCAL’S NEW BOOK PAGE 7
www.gippslandtimes.com.au
Wednesday Possible shower - Min: Thursday Possible shower - Min:3 3Max: Max:1513
Tel: 03 5143 9333
$2.00 Inc. GST INSIDE
Thursday Mostly sunnyshower - Min: -3 Max: Friday Possible Min: 214Max: 13
PropertyGuide GippslandTimes
BRINGING THEM HOME
Stratf tford f local and d Vietnam veteran John Bry ryant y has he elped uncover the bodies of 20 fallen n soldiers his batt ttalion t killed during the Batt ttle t of Balmoral in 1968. Pictured herre with his son, Josh Bry ryant, y and Daisy the dog, Mr Bry ryant y shares how his infformation led to the discovery ryy of Vietna amese mart rty tyrs y in a B-52 bomb crater.. ST STORY T - PAGES 4-6 Photo: Stefan Bradley
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES PAGE 10
SITTING PRETTY BOMBERS ON TOP
Yarram armed robbery
TWO Yarram Plaza Hot Bread staff members and a cleaner were tied up during an armed robbery last Friday morning, with the alleged offenders - a man and a woman - holding them at up at gunpoint. The offenders fled the scene after failing to steal cash out of the bakery register and an ATM, taking two pies with them. Afterwards, the bakery, who said the incident "scarred our staff for life", were given the clear to re-open and did so around 11.30am. "Please be kind and patient with our staff, they have been through alot and they have a lot of cleaning to do," they wrote on Facebook. "We would like to personally thank everyone for messages and calls of concern." All three workers were sent home for the day. Yarram locals offered to buy stock for the day to show their support. In a statement to the Gippsland Times,
police said they were investigating the armed robbery. "Officers have been told an unknown male and female entered a business on James Street about 4.15am. It is believed both offenders, who were armed with firearms, attempted to steal an ATM and tills but were unsuccessful and fled the scene,” the statement said. “There were three staff members present during the incident, but no one was physically injured. “The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage, are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com. au.” Yarram Plaza Hot Break owner, Kathryn Ireland told the ABC there was a need for more regular police in the town, as the Yarram Police Station is not a 24-hour station. The nearest is Sale, more than 72 kilometres away.
"We did, unfortunately, have to wait a very long period for the police to turn up because there was no-one on call here at the time," she said. "They had to come from Sale, through kangaroo-infested roads." Statistics from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) recently released show that Yarram has seen the largest rise in crime recorded within Wellington Shire, with an increase of more than 31 per cent over the past year (to March 31, 2024). Across Wellington, crime is up by 9.5 per cent. The rate of recorded offences across the state is up by 5.5 per cent, while the number of offences increased by 7.9 per cent to 535,673. Property and deception offences had the largest increase in the last 12 months, up 14.6 per cent. The main driver of the increase was theft. Family incidents increased by 3.1 per cent in the last 12 months, with 95,982 Victorian incidents recorded.
CSA Chief Statistician, Fiona Dowsley said that “there has been a 17 per cent increase in theft offences recorded in the last 12 months, driven by the highestever numbers of steal from a retail store offences, as well as sizable increases in steal from a motor vehicle and burglary offences”. “This rapid increase in crimes involving the acquisition of property may be related to cost of living pressures. The increase in property-related crime was largest contributor to the overall increase in crime in the last year. Alleged offenders being recorded for these crimes are drawn from all age groups, especially steal from a retail store which is above pre-COVID levels,” Ms Dowsley said. Specifically, thefts from retail store incidents increased by 38.3 per cent or by 3901 to 14,078 alleged offender incidents.
I detect a walk in! ZOOM ZOOM
Stock Clearance Sale on all makes and models
in to Sale Mazda for genuine savings on all new and demo vehicles in stock
It’s that easy...
Walk in for a cut today!
HAIR IS KANYEMBA
SALE MAZDA & MITSUBISHI SSale Mazda Mazda zd & Mitsubishi zd M subishi ub b h 273 73 York Yo Yor or rk St, St Sale Salle P PH: 5144 1311 LMCT. 12209 273 York Street, Sale Phone: 5144 1311
Raymond Street, Sale
Phone 5144 5746
View all our cars at www.salemazdaandmitsubishi.com.au GP1643634 60 1 GP1648742
LMCT. 12209
GP164 72119 5 7 17 5 2 8 94 1 74 1 1 3 9
“Please all, and you will please none.” Aesop