Media Releases

For some people, contacting Crime Stoppers or even visiting our website may put them at risk.

Perhaps they have a violent partner, or maybe they live on the criminal fringe. Whatever the reason, there are steps that can be taken to protect yourself from harm when you have something to confidentially share with us.

Don’t forget that while Crime Stoppers strips all your metadata if you send us information online, and our ‘quick exit’ button on the website let’s you immediately escape, that doesn’t mean that someone who has access to your computer can’t go into your history and see what you’ve been doing online.

So, if you’re worried about someone knowing you have visited our website, then there’s some simple steps for you to consider.

Ultimately, the safest way to use the internet privately is to do it in a safe place. That might be in the local library, at a friend’s house, school or even work. But don’t forget that if you are using a public computer it’s not enough to simply close a browser window or type in another address.

Programs like Web Mail and Instant Messenger include automatic login features that will automatically save your username and password. So make sure you disable that before logging in to ensure that no one can log in as you once you’re finished.

The other thing to remember is that internet browsers save particular information as you surf the internet. That can include images from websites you may have visited, particular words you have entered into a search engine and a history of sites you have visited. You can clear that history and cache through your browser settings to prevent people finding out which websites you have visited.

Google Chrome
Click the tool wrench icon in the upper-right corner of the toolbar and from the dropdown menu select “Clear Browsing Data”, or Push Ctrl + Shift + Del together, and clear history.
Use the checkboxes to select the data you want to clear. By using the “Clear data from this period” option you can specify the period for which you want the data cleared.
Finally click the “Clear Browsing Data” button.

Mozilla
Click on Tools and then Options, then click on Privacy.
Now select from the option to clear your recent history or remove individual cookies.

Internet Explorer 7
Click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
In the General page under Browser History, select the Delete button.
Either then select and delete each section listed, choosing from: Temporary internet files; Cookies, History; Forms data and Passwords; or select the Delete All button to clear everything.

It is one of South Australia’s oldest mysteries, and 43 years later exactly what happened to Glen Andrew Keith (Hugh) Stewart remains unknown.

On 18 February 1977 he attended a party at units at 358 Seaview Road, Henley Beach where he was reported to have drunk quite a lot of white wine.

Despite concerns by party-goers that he was too intoxicated to drive, he left alone at about 1am the following morning in a dark green 1965 Morris Mini Cooper “S” with a white top, SA registration 577-394.

Neither Mr Stewart or the vehicle were ever seen again.

It is unclear as to whether he had planned to make the 30-minute drive home, or headed elsewhere.

He was 21 years old at the time.

His room at 51 Devitt Street, Payneham was checked and an unopened pay packet was found on the dressing table.

Adding to his mysterious disappearance is that his beloved dog – and his constant and inseparable companion – was left at home, adding to concerns for his safety.

He was a member of a religious movement known as Subud, but whether that played a role in his disappearance remains unclear.

Extensive enquiries have been conducted by police in all States, overseas and through Interpol. Those efforts have failed to reveal any clue as to what happened to Mr Stewart or his vehicle.

Police suspect he has been murdered.

If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report from www.crimestopperssa.com.au

On Saturday 15 February 1992, Heather Fleming was located in the bathtub at her Marananga home in the Barossa Valley by her husband.

Her husband claimed to have found a radiator in the bath with his wife, which he had removed prior to police arriving.

The 53-year old had burns to her body consistent with an electrocution, which was determined to be the cause of death.

Subsequent forensic testing of the radiator showed it was not working and could not have electrocuted Mrs Fleming and had not been submerged in water.

A person was arrested and charged with her murder.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to proceed with the matter to trial, primarily due to witness issues.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer for information that leads to a conviction in this case.

If you have information, call 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Valentine’s Day might be that perfect opportunity for star-crossed lovers to share their heartfelt attraction to a potential partner, but it is also an opportunity for heartless scammers to prey on the lonely and vulnerable.

To help protect those looking for love, Crime Stoppers encourages people to be on the lookout for signs that they are being scammed, and know how to stay safe when meeting someone new for the first time.

While dating should be a fun and safe experience, important rules apply whether meeting someone online or in person for the first time. It is important to trust your instincts and remember that if something sounds too good to be true it probably is, and never, ever get financially involved with someone you hardly know.

Online dating sites are an increasingly popular option for many looking for love, but it is important to safeguard your privacy and anonymity. Don’t rush into meeting someone offline, and only exchange personal details when you are comfortable to do so.

If you do get to that point where you want to share contact details, consider using a free email service provider such as Gmail, Yahoo! or Hotmail in preference to a work email address. The more information you provide, the easier it is for someone to find out more about you via any social media account, online searching, or even contacting your employer under false pretence.

It is hard to gauge how many people have actually fallen victims to a love scam because often victims are too embarrassed to come forward. Avoid putting yourself in that position by never sending money or offering financial assistance to someone you’re just getting to know – even if they claim it’s an emergency or promise to pay you back.

Dating scammers often try and trick their victims into falling in love and then deceitfully take their money. If someone you’ve met online but never met in person asks you to loan or gift them money then alarm bells should be ringing.

Australians reported almost 4,000 dating and romance scams in 2019, with losses of more than $28.6 million, and that is thought to be just the tip of the iceberg. Around 37.5 per cent of reports resulted in a loss, with an average loss of more than $19,000.

Some facts and figures provided by Scamwatch include:

• 31.4 per cent of dating and romance scams occurred via social media and online forums.
• The highest losses (over 33 per cent or $9.1 million) occurred via social media.
• Instagram was the most common social media website totalling 8.8 per cent of dating and romance scam reports.
• Facebook was the social media website that incurred the highest losses totalling 7.3 per cent of all losses.
• People aged 45–64 were most affected with 1470 reports and over $18 million in losses. This represents 63 per cent of total losses to dating and romance scams.
• Women reported 54.9 per cent (2165 reports) of all dating and romance scam reports, with the remainder 43.3 per cent (1707 reports) made by men, and 1.8 per cent (74 reports) did not specify gender.
• Women reported the highest total losses of $21.5 million (75.3 per cent of all losses). Men reported $7 million or 24.6 per cent of the total losses.
• The majority of losses occurred via bank transfer, totalling 33.8 per cent or almost $9.7 million. This was followed by ‘other payment’ method such as iTunes, Steam and Google Play gift cards, which totalled $8.8 million or 30.8 per cent of all losses.

Some safe dating tips include:

Meet when you are ready – you are not obliged to meet anyone so don’t feel pressured. Regardless of how much communication you’ve had online, take all the time you need to become comfortable with someone before sharing any contact details.

• Talk on the phone – before jumping into a face-to-face meeting, think about having a chat on the phone before you meet – and consider using your mobile instead of sharing your home or work number.
• Pick a safe place – the ideal spot will be in a well-lit public location, with plenty of people around, is easy to get to and where you will feel comfortable. If possible, have your own transport to begin with rather than accepting any offer to be picked up.
• Tell a friend – on the first date, let a trusted friend know where you will be and give them your date’s contact number and name. Think about asking that person to call at a pre-determined time for a safety check-in. If the date is a dud, it makes for a good excuse to cut the date short. Make sure you’ve charged your mobile before heading out.
• Watch your drink – never leave your drink unattended. It is very quick and easy to spike a drink so don’t give anyone that opportunity.
• Always be aware of your surroundings, stay vigilant, and if you feel in danger when out with someone new then move and consider calling for help.

If you have any information about criminals or criminal activity then call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

A $100,000 reward is on offer to identify a man wanted in connection with eleven armed robberies on banks in the Adelaide Hills and nearby country locations since 2004.

Despite having his DNA his actual identity remains unknown. Since 21 May 2004 it is believed that he has robbed various banks armed with a firearm, possibly a semi-automatic assault rifle which he has used to threaten staff and customers.

During the robbery at Balaklava on 27 June 2008 he used the rifle to threaten a police officer who responded to the hold-up alarm.

Robberies he is alleged to have committed:

• 11.30am Friday 21 May 2004 at ANZ Mannum
• 11.50am Monday 26 July 2004 at ANZ Lobethal
• 11.30am Thursday 17 March 2005 at BankSA Blackwood
• 2.10pm Monday 19 September 2005 at BankSA Mt Pleasant
• 12.02pm Friday 21 April 2006 at BankSA Tanunda
• 1.25pm Thursday 14 December 2006 at ANZ Yankalilla
• 11.35am Thursday 26 July 2007 at BankSA Mt Pleasant
• 1.48pm Friday 14 September 2007 at ANZ Yankalilla
• 11.45am Friday 27 June 2008 at ANZ Balaklava
• 11.15am Friday June 26 2009 at BankSA Willunga
• 11.39am Thursday 4 September 2014 at BankSA Mt Pleasant

He is described as being Caucasian, approximately 180 to 186 cm tall, medium to stocky build, fair complexion and who speaks with a strong Australian accent. When committing the robberies he normally wears a dark coloured balaclava and/or motorcycle helmet, dark coloured water proof jacket, full length dark coloured cargo type pants and white sandshoes.

On four occasions he was seen leaving the scene of the robbery on a bicycle and on five occasions by foot.

On at least three of those five occasions a white Mitsubishi Magna or similar type sedan has been seen in the near vicinity prior to the robbery.

On the last two occasions the offender was seen after the robberies in a silver/grey mid-sized 4WD. It is believed that the vehicle is a Subaru Forester.

If you have any information, call 1800 333 000 or make a report from our home page at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

It is now 16 years since Eric Lynch is presumed to have been murdered.

The 44-year old lived at Willimott Street, Ethelton, and was reported missing on 16 February 2004.

The man who last saw him was a loose associate who also operated on the periphery of the drug world.

He lent Mr Lynch $500 and saw him get into a white VN Holden Commodore VUY720 around 2pm that day and drive off. While the activity of Mr Lynch for the next few hours remains a mystery, at some stage later that day he drove to the property of another associate – a man who is suspected to have murdered him.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, rented a house on a farming property at Kapinnie, 60km north of Port Lincoln.

Although a specific motive for his murder remains to be determined, detectives believe it was most likely linked to his drug dealing activities. However, the fact Lynch may have had an eye for the then partner of the suspect may also have been a factor.

The Commodore was seen in the early evening of February 10 leaving the Kapinnie property and travelling with a green Jeep Cherokee four wheel drive WA registration 1AY1032 to Tumby Bay, arriving on dusk.

It is believed that Mr Lynch was shot and killed while sitting in the front seat of the Commodore. When the car was recovered from a man not connected to the murder a large amount of blood was found in the footwell behind the driver’s seat and on the interior of the driver’s side door.

Forensic testing has matched it to Mr Lynch’s DNA.

Police believe Mr Lynch’s body was initially hidden in bush land around Kapinnie but was later moved. At the time of the murder extensive road works were being conducted and workers reported an intense stench in the immediate area for a period, but it then mysteriously stopped.

They suspect a white 1989 Ford station wagon SA registration VAC-414 may have been used to transport his body to where he is now buried, believed to be not far from Kapinnie.

The white Ford Falcon station wagon was being used by the suspects’ then partner before the murder, and was recovered at a wrecking yard in Adelaide – with carpet from the rear of the station wagon missing.

Mr Lynch’s bank accounts have not been accessed and he has not been in contact with any family or friends. Of particular note is that he has had no contact with his family which is highly unusual.

Police arrested two people charging them with his murder in March 2005. The charges were later withdrawn.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer for information that leads to a conviction or the recovery of her remains.

If you have any information, call 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Karen Morton, aged 35 years, was living with her partner and their two children when she went missing from her Pennington home on 9 February 2002.

The last confirmed sighting of her was on April 5, 2002, when she visited her doctor.

An insulin-dependent diabetic who was addicted to heroin, Ms Morton frequented Adelaide’s western suburbs and sometimes engaged in sex work to fund her drug habit.

She suffered frequent hypo glycaemic attacks as she did not appropriately manage her condition.

Ms Morton regularly attended government agencies seeking medical and financial assistance. She also sought help regarding domestic violence with her partner. The agencies have had no contact with Ms Morton since early 2002.

Police suspect Ms Morton has been murdered.

Investigators have connected a suspect in the disappearance of Ms Morton with the 2009 disappearance of Whyalla man Henry “Harry” Houston.

Neither missing person knew the other but both were closely associated with the suspect.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer for information that leads to a conviction or the recovery of her remains.

If you have any information, call 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Robert Pendergast was reported missing by his mother on 27 May 1999.

She had last spoken with the 31-year old on 6 February 1999 when he was staying in Adelaide.

He has not been seen or heard from since that time.

Prior to his disappearance Mr Pendergast had been arrested by NSW Police in April 1998 for his involvement in interstate cannabis trafficking.

It is known that he was staying with criminal associates in Adelaide during 1999 and it is believed that at least two of these associates are responsible for his suspected murder.

It is believed that a drug debt is what led him to be shot at a country location east of Adelaide and his body buried.

The suspected murders of Mr Pendergast, David McWilliams, Leo Daly and 15-year old Juan Morgan are being investigated by Major Crime Investigation Branch under the title of Operation Jarrah.

The suspects for each of these murders are known to investigators however further information is required to provide evidence that would lead to the charging and prosecution of these suspects.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer for information that leads to a conviction and/or leading to the recovery of his remains.