Victoria Police

Gannawarra Shire

COHUNA

•     Between 5pm Saturday, November 4 and Sunday morning, the handwashing station at Cohuna Apex Park toilet block has been damaged. Offenders have forcibly ripped the hand dryer and soap dispenser off the wall resulting in exposed live wires. If anyone has seen anything, please contact police.

KERANG

•     A fire was reported at a hay company on Koondrook–Kerang Road, Kerang on November 7 around 4pm, where there are approximately 30 large open hay sheds with large bales in each. Seven sheds were lost containing 5,500 large hay bales, as well as a Kenworth prime mover, with the final damage in the vicinity of $500,000. Fire Captain Ray Steele stated the fire had started from internal combustion from moist bales.
•     On November 8 at approx. 7pm, there was a fire at a farmhouse on Kerang-Koondrook Road, Teal Point. The occupant of the home had lit two small fires in a ploughed paddock to burn off debris and grass during a period of fire restriction for Gannawarra Shire. CFA attended and extinguished the fires.  
•     At approximately 5.45am on November 5, a couple in their 80s at Murray Street, Kerang were awake and listening to the radio in bed when the victim noticed a female standing in the doorway of the bedroom. The victim and husband have gotten out of bed, but the offender has quickly made their way out the rear of the property. There was torn flywire where the offender had gained entry through a side window. The victim found cards removed from her purse and noticed that $120 in cash had been stolen. Vic Pol have made referrals for the victims as this type of experience can have quite an impact.

REEDY LAKE 

•     Between 10am November 3 and 9am November 7, there has been a theft of registered trailer and Kawasaki jetski. Three padlocks and wire on the front gate have been cut, and offenders have also removed CCTV camera.

LAKE CHARM

•     Friday, November 10 at approx. 11.45am, Police Highway Patrol noticed small spot fires on the shoulder of the Murray Valley Highway north of Kerang around Lake Charm. Emergency services were able to mobilise quickly, as with dry conditions and hot temperature that day, the fire was spreading rapidly. 23 CFA and five Forest Fire Management appliances attended. They were able to extinguish the fire without damage to any dwellings, however, fences, power poles and crops were damaged. The fires were brought under control, but strike teams continued throughout the evening to make sure there were not flare ups due to Total Fire Ban the next day. The highway was closed for a section either side of Lake Charm and couldn’t be reopened for several hours until damaged power poles could be inspected and addressed. Railway lines also had to be inspected as the fire crossed over at one point. In excess of 600 hay bales, 185 hectares (approx. 457 acres) of crops and grazing and significant fencing were lost and damaged. Road safety and CFA offences were identified and are being further investigated as it is believed that the fires were started by sparks when a trailer being towed up the Murray Valley Highway lost a tyre.

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https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/report-a-crime/

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