21 September 2010

Police Wrap - 21 September 2010

21 September 2010 | By johnboy

ACT Policing officers fitted over 600 vehicles with tamper-proof screws during a special crime prevention program conducted in conjunction with Westfield Woden on Sunday (September 19).

During an intensive four-hour fitting operation in Westfield Woden carpark, police re-secured the registration plates of 640 vehicles with the special one-way screws designed to reduce the prevalence of plate theft.

The theft of registration plates is often the precursor to crimes such as petrol drive-offs, burglaries and traffic offences.

Project Safe Plate was supported by Safety House, Neighbourhood Watch, Directions ACT, and Goodyear Tyres, who provided free tyre safety checks. Road safety messaging, through the exhibit of the vehicle involved in a 2008 fatal crash in Russell, was also presented.

Members of ACT Policing’s current recruit class were involved in Project Safe Plate, as were members of Traffic Operations, SRS Water Operations, and Crash Investigations. Constable Kenny Koala was also in attendance, while the Volunteers in Policing (VIPs) again provided outstanding support services.

While having their plates secured by Project Safe Plate, members of the public also kindly donated more than $500 to the legacy fund to support the family of NSW Police Constable Bill Crews, recently killed in the line of duty.

The Officer in Charge of Woden Station, Sergeant Bob Wynn, said the day’s effort was outstanding, and one which hopefully will be measured in a reduced number of plate thefts in the future.

“We’re very pleased that so many members of the public support this program. Every number plate theft we can prevent has the potential to further reduce crime in the community,“ Sgt Wynn said.

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screaming banshee4:52 pm 21 Sep 10

carnardly said :

Gosh – I was in and out in 10 mins. Drive in, show licence, proceed to screw man, smile and nod and out i go. I had no complaints.

snigger

Perhaps Swaggie was in the line for the impotent guy??

carnardly11:48 am 21 Sep 10

Gosh – I was in and out in 10 mins. Drive in, show licence, proceed to screw man, smile and nod and out i go. I had no complaints.

Swaggie11:02 am 21 Sep 10

I thought I’d get my plates done but It was a bloody shambles – Neptune street was solid with cars backed up from the car park entrance to out along Callum Street and I wasn’t the only driver who gave up waiting and turned around. Would it be totally out of the question to do this in a larger open space ground level car park such as the one down the road where you don’t block the entrance of the multi story with cars waiting for their plates to be done? I’d suggest to Sgt Wynn that they could have done over a thousand cars if the event was properly organised. Still, it’s a nice idea and thanks for the initiative, shame it was so badly organised.