Video

After shivering through a cold and wet winter, South Australians are expected to make the most of the upcoming October long weekend to venture further afield and enjoy the Spring weather. But with more than 8,600 SA homes having already falling victim to thieves in the past year, Crime Stoppers SA has partnered with the Police Credit Union to encourage people to undertake basic security precautions around the home as part of their getaway planning.

Crime Stoppers SA Chair, Ms Sharon Hanlon, said a review of serious criminal trespass incidents found that most break-ins happen on Fridays, with thieves most commonly smashing through a back door to gain entry, with jewellery, car keys and tools most commonly stolen.

“A few basic security precautions around the home as part of your holiday getaway preparations can go a long way towards keeping thieves at bay and your property protected,” Ms Hanlon said.

“Unlocked windows and doors continue to be the biggest security weakness for many burgled Australian homes, so people should take time to double-check that all are locked, and make sure that sheds, garage doors, and side gates are also locked too,” she said.

Crime Stoppers SA recommends the following tips for home owners:

Invest in a home security system

When it comes to choosing a home security system, it can be as simple or as complex as you want. Options range from an intruder alarm that covers entry points like windows and doors, through to a security alarm system with motion sensors that covers a home and garage. The tech-savvy might even want to opt for a closed-circuit camera to film any unwelcome guests that can be accessed via a smartphone app that sends an alert when an intruder is detected.

And if you already have a security system, check to make sure it is working properly, and remember to turn it on.

Hide spare keys

It’s not uncommon for people to leave spare house keys under a pot plant or door mat, despite being the most likely hiding places. Play it safe and give a spare set of keys to someone you trust instead. If you plan to leave any vehicles at home while you’re away, it is always a good idea to hide the keys to prevent thieves making off with your car or motorcycle too.

Install an outdoor sensor light

Movement activated outdoor sensor lights are a great way to illuminate a would-be burglar lurking in the shadows. Make sure to test it before you head off.

Roller shutters or security screens

Roller shutters and security screens are a great way to prevent access and keep the contents of your home hidden from potential thieves.

Suspend the newspaper

Consider asking a trusted neighbour to collect any mail while you’re away, and suspend any newspaper delivery to avoid any pile-ups in your front yard over the weekend because it shows that you’re not likely to be home.

Have light timers

A dark house is a sure-fire giveaway that you’re not at home, so install some light timers to turn your lights on and off to give your place that lived-in look.

Opt for a house- or pet-sitter

If your four-legged friend is going to be left behind, have a friend or family member house-sit while you’re away to secure your home against theft, feed your pet, collect the mail, pick up newspapers, and put out the bins.

Put away any outdoor equipment

Outdoor items are also an attractive prize for a thief, so put away valuable outdoor equipment and furniture, solar panel lights, sports gear and toys, and bicycles. Lock away ladders or bins so they cannot be used to enter your home from a higher position, and don’t leave tools or garden implements laying around because they can provide an opportunistic thief with a way to enter your home.

Make a record

It is a good idea to prepare for the worst, so make an inventory of your property, and take photographs of any engravings, marks and any other relevant details. It will make your stolen property harder to sell and easier to trace, and will help with any insurance claim you might have to make. Consider marking items with your name and/or your driver’s licence number, and remember to record details of a manufacturer, model name or number, and any serial number of your most prized possessions.

Don’t forget that the MyWheels app – powered by Crime Stoppers – is free to download and the perfect solution to capturing all your vehicles’ data, accessories, insurance details, and even photos!

A husband and wife wanted for drug trafficking, a man accused of murdering his brother earlier this year, and a Queensland man on arrest warrant for a double murder in 1991 are among 18 fugitives wanted across the nation.

Crime Stoppers SA Chair, Ms Sharon Hanlon, said this year’s Operation Roam – Rogue Radar was focussed on criminals wanted for a range of serious crimes who continue to actively fly under the radar to avoid arrest.

“This is a national initiative developed by Crime Stoppers in partnership with police to encourage the community to provide information about wanted people who are on the run and likely to be moving between states. Some of these targets are suspected of serious crimes such as murder, assault, armed robbery and drug trafficking,” Ms Hanlon said.

“We urge people to provide information – no matter how small – about these fugitives by calling the Crime Stoppers toll-free 1800 333 000 hotline, visiting www.crimestopperssa.com.au or using the reporting app,” she said.

“All of our targets are actively avoiding police, which means any of them could be living in South Australia to stay under the radar to escape arrest. If anyone sees any of the targeted fugitives they should call 000 immediately, and a reward of up to $1,000 may be eligible for tips that lead to the arrest of any wanted person,” Ms Hanlon said.

“Last year’s campaign demonstrated the power of people, with both SA targets successfully located and arrested thanks to information provided by the community.”

With an average of 25 crimes solved every week and more than 30,000 crimes solved since it began 20 years ago as a direct result of information provided to Crime Stoppers SA, this is a highly effective program that clearly has the trust of the community and makes South Australia a far safer place.

Many of these targets are wanted for a range of serious offences, so people should NOT approach them under any circumstances.

For a full list of Operation Roam – Rogue Radar targets go to www.crimestoppers.com.au

Ms Ebert was last seen on 8 August when she reportedly got out of the family car at Roseworthy and walked off, leaving behind her husband, two boys aged 1 and 3, and her personal possessions – including passport, purse and phone.

An extensive search of the area has been unsuccessful and grave fears are held for her safety.

Police today released video footage of the 23-year-old with her family at the South Australian Museum about 3.20pm on Tuesday 8 August – the last independent sighting of her. The video can be viewed here

She was reported missing by a relative at about 10.30am on Thursday 11 August.

Her husband, who she met and married shortly after arriving in Australia in 2012, told police that on 8 August, as the family headed home to a country station at Mannahill, she got out of the car and walked off.

Ms Ebert is a German citizen, of Caucasian appearance, slim build, 165 to 170cm tall, blue eyes, blonde hair and speaks with a German accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au/

CCTV vision of the ram-raid and fire that damaged the Gepps Cross Drive-in has been released as part of a renewed appeal to the public for information.

Just after 1.35am, Wednesday 29 March 201

7, emergency crews responded to a suspicious building fire at the Drive-in Theatre on Main North Road.

Prior to the fire, CCTV vision shows two masked men in a stolen Ford ute ram the front doors of the building before stealing an ATM from inside.

At about 2.30am, the stolen car was found set alight on Eastern Parade at Ottoway, with the ATM located in the rear tray of the ute.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at http://crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.

Crime Stoppers South Australia has partnered with SA Police to encourage people in the Port Lincoln community to come forward with information about the unsolved 2002 disappearance and suspected murder of Susan Gae Goodwin.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray, the officer in charge of the SAPOL Major Crime Investigation Branch, today launched the campaign at Port Lincoln, which has included five patrol cars being turned into mobile billboards highlighting the case, along with the distribution of posters and coasters, to encourage information from the public.

“We believe this murder is eminently solvable,” Detective Superintendent Bray said.

The disappearance of Ms Goodwin on 19 July 2002 has been subject to a full case review as part of an ongoing cold case campaign, and has led to several new lines of inquiry in relation to the disappearance of the then 39-year-old.

“Our experienced investigators believe the answer to this case lies in the local community,” Detective Superintendent Bray said.

“We want to ensure everyone on the lower Eyre Peninsula is aware of this case, and the fact that even the smallest detail may provide the breakthrough we need. We believe that she was murdered and that her body has been disposed of within a 30km radius of this town. To that end we have taken the unusual step of branding this case onto marked police cars and producing a series of posters and coasters which we will be distributing to businesses and local residents alike.”

“We are asking that everyone consider where they were 15 years ago – did you know Susan? Did you see anything unusual? Do you have information that could bring this woman back to her family?”

A reward of up to $200,000 is available for information that leads to the recovery of Ms Goodwin’s remains or the conviction of those responsible for her disappearance and suspected murder.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Stoppers hotline on 1800 333 000, where they can be connected with an investigator who can ask to meet with a ‘cold case’ investigator or report online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au/

Some of South Australia’s most horrific crimes have been solved as a direct result of information provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers SA, and the well-known not-for-profit program has used the national ‘Crime Stoppers Day’ on Monday 15^th May 2017 to say thanks.

Crime Stoppers SA Deputy Chair, Mr Phil Vincent, said police had made more than 19,000 apprehensions since the Crime Stoppers program was first launched in South Australia in 1996, and continued to achieve an array of significant results.

“During the 2016 calendar year Crime Stoppers received 22,661 calls and nearly 4,000 online reports through the website from people about a range of matters, and the information provided ultimately saw 895 apprehensions and 70 firearms seized,” Mr Vincent said.

“Last year information provided directly cleared a number of very serious crimes, including a murder, two robberies, four serious thefts, eleven firearms offences and 91 serious drug offences. In addition, one person was apprehended for child pornography matters and a wanted fugitive was tracked down and arrested on the run in Thailand and extradited back to Australia,” he said.

“Calls and online reports about drug growing, dealing and manufacturing continue to be significant, and suggest that the community clearly understands the damage that drugs are doing to their loved ones and lifestyle. Last year’s dedicated Dob in a Dealer campaign, funded by the Federal Government, and delivered at a grass-roots level in each state and territory, helped to encourage people to come forward with information.”

The number of drug seizures in the 2016 calendar year thanks to information provided to Crime Stoppers SA included:

• 1725 cannabis plants and about 163kg of cannabis;
• 8 clandestine labs;
• 7kg of amphetamine and 1789 ecstasy tablets

Additional 2016 results achieved from Crime Stoppers reports includes:

• 47 calls relating to Terrorism;
• 47 reports relating to the Coorong (Salt Creek) investigation;
• 264 reports over a 3-month period regarding to a string of attacks on women in Adelaide’s south east;
• 132 reports related to missing persons, 102 related to theft, 116 related to robberies and 180 related to assaults.

Mr Vincent said such outstanding results clearly demonstrated that the Crime Stoppers SA program remains a highly-successful intelligence gathering and crime solving initiative.

“We know that people contact Crime Stoppers because it is the trusted link between the community and police, and they understand that they can provide information about illegal activity and unsolved crimes anonymously, with the option of a reward,” Mr Vincent said.

“National Crime Stoppers Day is our opportunity to thank the South Australian public in particular for their help in achieving these outstanding results and ultimately taking an active role in helping to make the community safer,” he said.

As an independent community organisation and registered charity, Crime Stoppers South Australia relies on the generosity of businesses and individuals, and just as every piece of information assists to help solve crime, every dollar donated can also make a difference – supporting crime prevention and awareness programs across SA, as well as the Crime Stoppers rewards fund.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Crime Stoppers SA, visit https://crimestopperssa.com.au

Anyone with information about a crime or criminal activities can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, by visiting www.crimestopperssa.com.au or downloading the free “Report Suspicious Behaviour” app for iOS and Android phones.

About Crime Stoppers SA

Crime Stoppers began in South Australia in 1996 and since then has played a critical role in encouraging people to come forward with information that helps to solve crimes, and educate on topics such as property and personal safety, vehicle theft, and cyber safety.

The program encourages people to be alert and engaged participants in their community and provides a secure way for information about illegal activity and unsolved crimes to be reported to police through a toll-free hotline and a website that guarantees anonymity with the option of a reward. Crime Stoppers SA works with police, the media and the public to solve, reduce and prevent crime.