Media Releases

On Thursday, 31^st October there are sure to be plenty of children who use Halloween as the perfect excuse to dress up, have fun and go trick or treating around the neighbourhood.

Even though the annual event has its origins in the United States, Halloween has become a popular past time for Australian children too.

But before heading out, it is a good idea for parents and care givers to talk with youngsters about the tips below on how to behave, stay safe and have an enjoyable Halloween:

• Always make sure that a child is accompanied by a trusted, responsible person when ‘trick or treating’
• Children are best to walk, not run, when going from house to house.
• Make sure to obey all traffic rules, watch out for cars, and use proper road crossings where available.
• Stay on the footpath at all times. If there is no footpath, walk single file on the right-hand side of the road facing traffic.
• Take extra care when crossing roads as children may find it hard to see so well in a costume.
• If using a skateboard, rollerblades or bikes, make sure a helmet is worn.
• After knocking on a door then children or young people should not enter the person’s house, even if invited inside while the person looks for treats.
• Sometimes, a homeowner may not want to participate, or selects a trick instead of providing a treat. Children and young people should be told that any trick mustn’t cause them harm, fear, damage or be abusive in any way.
• Be respectful of other people, because not everyone celebrates Halloween. Some people will be genuinely concerned or fearful of any doorknockers. If you are aware of someone like that, make sure children know not to bother them.
• A great option to ‘trick or treating’ is holding a Halloween party at home; that way children are supervised and can still celebrate.

A total of eighteen men and two women were apprehended for a range of serious offences during September thanks to the information you provided to Crime Stoppers.

In addition to more than 160 drug-related contacts and 55 contacts about illegal firearms, we also received information about the bashing murder of Shaun Russell at Hackham West and the shooting murder of Jason De Ieso at his Pooraka workshop in 2012. We also had people share what they know about an indecent assault at Seaford Meadows, a hit-run crash at Greenwith, as well as serious criminal trespass incidents at the Supreme Court in the city and at a Croydon café.

The apprehensions made during the month saw police lay a variety of charges for trafficking a controlled drug, money laundering, and firearm and weapon offences.

Our unsolved weekly crime segments asked for your help in response to a series of violent incidents involving outlaw motorcycle gangs, the robbery of a taxi driver by three men at Brompton, an armed hold up of a Para Hills service station and three men caught on CCTV breaking into the Lion Arts Centre in the city.

Watch these and other weekly crime segments at https://www.youtube.com/user/SIBSACrimeStoppers

Other September 2019 results included:

• 1146 intelligence reports were generated and 1119 actions issued to police for investigation;
• More than 80 cannabis plants and 55kg of dried cannabis;
• 415 grams of meth-amphetamine;
• Nearly 2,500 contacts via our hotline and website
• Seizure of 5 firearms, as well as ammunition and other illegal weapons;
• Nearly $100,000 in cash;
• More than 10,600 people visited the Crime Stoppers SA website, resulting in 30,972 page views;

If you have any information about criminal activity or an unsolved crime, then call our free hotline on 1800 333 000 or go to www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Rewards are available and you can remain anonymous.

On 1 December 1984 the body of Liet Duong, aged 36 years, was located in a shallow grave in scrubland near Whyalla.

He was last seen alive on 26 October 1984 in Whyalla.

The cause of death of Mr Duong was not established and could not exclude natural causes.

The partner of Mr Duong was arrested and tried for offences relating to the disposal of the body and convicted.

This conviction was later quashed on appeal.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

At about 3.30pm on Friday 25 October 2002 Bernadette Liston, aged 46 years, was found murdered in her Ives Crescent, Victor Harbor home by her 12-year old daughter when she arrived home from school.

Ms Liston had been brutally bashed, shot a number of times in the head and in the back, and also attacked with a knife.

While there was no sign of forced entry to the house, a number of items were missing including her mobile phone and bath towels.

Ms Liston was last seen alive by her partner and 4-year old daughter when they left the Victor Harbor home at about 9.30am.

Police believe that Ms Liston was murdered during the morning of October 25 and is suspected to have known her killer.

In August 2008 a female was arrested for Ms Liston’s murder but was subsequently acquitted in the Supreme Court after the judge ruled there was not enough evidence to prove murder.

A reward of up to $200,000 remains on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Do you have the missing piece of the puzzle to solve the murder and suspected murder of two brothers 47 years ago?

On 13 October 1972, Davor Unkovich, aged 25 years, and his brother Ante Unkovich, aged 30 years, arrived in Adelaide having travelled by car from Perth.

Both men were born in Yugoslavia but had been living in Perth for some time.

It is believed they travelled to Adelaide to complete a business deal with a Yugoslavian man. Prior to leaving Perth the brothers unsuccessfully tried to illegally purchase a handgun.

At about 11.15am on Sunday 22 October 1972, Davor Unkovich was found lying face down in shallow water at Maslin Beach.

He had been shot a number of times in the head. Davor was last seen alive on 19 October 1972 when in company with Ante Unkovich.

Their Holden Torana sedan was later located abandoned in Adelaide, and contained clothing belonging to both of them.

The murderer of Davor Unkovich has never been identified.

Ante Unkovich’s whereabouts remains unknown and police suspect that he has also been murdered.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who either provides information leading to the recovery of Ante’s remains or information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperssa.com.au

Crime Stoppers SA has been recognised for delivering benchmark crime-solving campaigns at this year’s Crime Stoppers International Awards, after it was announced as winner of the Best Specialised Training Award and Best Media Television Award categories.

Crime Stoppers SA received the awards for a campaign designed to disrupt the local drug trade after the tripling of methamphetamine use in South Australia over a 5-year period, and its unsolved crime segment asking for help to identify a woman wanted for an assault on an Adelaide taxi driver.

Crime Stoppers SA chair, Ms Sharon Hanlon, said the award wins reinforce the very real contribution that the independent not-for-profit continues to make to the safety of South Australians, and its ability to deliver world-leading initiatives despite limited financial resources.

“Our amazing results would not be possible without the support of our valued partners, and special mention goes to Police Credit Union for committing to a significant 3-year partnership in 2017 when we were at a point of concern with our financial position. We also greatly appreciate the significant in-kind support provided by SA Police and the team at Channel 9 Adelaide, who continue to work with us to engage the community and solve crime,” Ms Hanlon said.

“Our Make the Call campaign demonstrates the strong return on investment that we can offer, with the then Labor State Government recognising our capability by funding this highly-successful initiative. Our hope is that our latest award wins encourage others to also get behind Crime Stoppers and provide much-needed financial support to offset our operation costs and fund more campaigns so that we can continue to make a real difference,” she said.

The winning categories for Crime Stoppers SA were:

Best Specialised Training Award – Make The Call campaign

After wastewater analysis found a tripling in use of methamphetamine over a 5-year period in South Australia, Crime Stoppers delivered a 6-month campaign targeting makers and dealers of amphetamine/meth-amphetamine – particularly street level and online dealers.

A comprehensive community engagement campaign – which included a series of regional launches, localised advertising tactics and eye-catching promotional materials – was developed and implemented to encourage people with information about manufacturing and selling of methamphetamine to anonymously contact Crime Stoppers.

Key campaign results included:

• 5 regional community roadshows held in key country locations;
• 4193 contacts regarding illicit drugs (with 1126 of those specifically related to amphetamines);
• 28 persons arrested and 31 reported;
• Five clandestine laboratories shut down;
• 480g of methamphetamine, 7,484mls of fantasy and 300ml of ‘other’ liquid drugs seized;
• Cannabis, cocaine, LSD, cannabis oil, prescription medications and $79,50 cash seized;
• Eight firearms and ammunition located, as well as tasers, batons and knives.

Best Media Television Award – Golden Grove taxi assault

Taxi drivers face a constant barrage of abuse, drunken and aggressive passengers, and regular fare evaders, and that became all too real for one Adelaide driver at about 2am on 1st October 2016.

That ride was the start of what would become a 2-year search to identify his violent female passenger, who refused to pay the fare, punched the driver in the face and ran off after arriving at Golden Grove. Despite clear CCTV imagery of the woman and extensive enquiries she was not able to be identified. Faced with a stalled investigation, police approached Crime Stoppers for help, believing that someone would be able to provide that vital piece of information.

Airing of a 30-second unsolved crime segment, produced in partnership with Channel 9, saw two calls to Crime Stoppers which identified the woman. She was located and charged with failing to pay for a taxi fare, aggravated assault and property damage.

“We are very proud that Crime Stoppers has helped to solve more than 32,500 crimes and more than 21,000+ people have been apprehended since it first began in SA. An average of 25 crimes continue to be solved every week as a direct result of information provided by the community, with one apprehension made for every seven calls received,” Ms Hanlon said.

“The statistics demonstrate that we make a real difference. In 2018 alone we received more than 25,000 phone and web reports received which resulted in police making 822 apprehensions. A total of 82 firearms were seized during the year, and an estimated 80,035 cannabis and 12,227 amphetamine street deals stopped,” she said.

An independent report commissioned by Crime Stoppers Australia in 2018 found the program remains Australia’s most recognised and pre-eminent information reporting service, delivering a return of $11.15 in additional value for every dollar invested. The report also found that 82% of people feel safer knowing the program is in place, and 62% said Crime Stoppers made it more likely they would report information.

About the CSI Awards

The Crime Stoppers International annual awards recognise leading individuals, programs, activities and campaigns from around the world for excellence and for their contribution to the achievement of the Crime Stoppers International vision – to help stop, solve and prevent crime globally. This year’s winners were announced at an Awards Presentation Ceremony, held in conjunction with the 2019 Crime Stoppers International Annual Conference in Singapore, in front of an international audience of Crime Stoppers delegates and distinguished guests.

Anthony Stone was an inmate at the Yatala Labour Prison when he was murdered.

The 34 year old was present in the yard during a meeting with about 90 other prisoners at about 2.45 pm on 12 October 1989.

During this meeting Mr Stone was fatally stabbed with a knife believed to have been removed from the prison kitchen.

A fellow inmate was arrested and charged with Mr Stone’s murder, but that charge was later withdrawn.

While the person remains the suspect in this matter, further evidence is required before a fresh murder charge can be laid.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who provides information leading to a conviction in the case.