Burglar steals from sleeping victims

A burglar who woke home owners in inner-suburban Melbourne as he rifled through their drawers has been caught on CCTV.

An image released by police.

An image released by police. Source: Herald Sun

A BURGLAR who broke into two homes as the owners slept is being hunted by police.

The thief even ransacked a bedside table as the home owner slept in the bed just centimetres away, police said.

The first incident happened in Newmarket St, Newmarket, at 3.50am on March 25 after he gained access through an unlocked door.

“One of the three occupants in the house, a 24-year-old man, woke to find the burglar going through a bedside table next to his bed,” police spokeswoman Creina O’Grady said.

“The man got out of bed and confronted the burglar, who ran out a rear door and then along the railway lines.”

Police believe the same man broke into an apartment on Fisher Parade, Ascot Vale, about 11.30pm the next night.

“He woke the sleeping occupants, a 27-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, when he stood at their bedroom door and used his mobile phone to see his way,” Ms O’Grady said.

“The man ran from the apartment, grabbing a laptop computer on his way out.”

Detectives believe the man climbed over a boundary fence and then unlocked a glass sliding door to gain entry.

“This was terrifying for the victims involved and frightening for community at large,” Sen-Det Shaun O'Connell, from Moonee Valley Criminal Investigation Unit, said.

“We have no idea why he is walking straight into the bedrooms.”

Sen-Det O’Connell said there was nothing to suggest the offender was local, but police had posted letters about the burglaries to 800 homes in the area and the offending had since stopped.

Police have released images and CCTV footage of a man they would like to speak to.

He is Caucasian, aged between 25 and 35, with a bald head.

He was wearing sneakers, dark-coloured shorts and a light-coloured T-shirt.

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

jon.kaila@news.com.au

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Bandits use capsicum spray on victims

Police wish to speak to these two men after capsicum spray was doused on two female shop workers in Meadow Heights on April 4. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Source: Herald Sun

A PAIR of balaclava-clad bandits doused their victims with capsicum spray during an armed robbery in Melbourne's north.

The bandana-wearing duo showered staff attendants with capsicum spray after one victim pulled out a baseball bat.

The robbers – decked out in hooded tops and tracksuit pants – stormed the Nicholson St milk bar in Meadow Heights at 8.45pm last Thursday, April 4.

Two female shop attendants watched on as one of the bandits manned the door and the other confronted them, producing a knife and making demands for cash.

One of the shop keepers, 22, startled the robber by brandishing a baseball bat in defence as he approached the register.

The move prompted the robber to use the capsicum spray, which he showered on both of them before emptying the till.

Both men ran away.

Fawkner Embona Taskforce detectives are investigating the incident and have released CCTV images of men they believe may be able to assist them with their investigation.

The first man is described as about 177cm tall with a medium build.

He was wearing a light blue jumper, blue tracksuit pants, a black balaclava and was carrying a black sports bag.

The second man is believed to be Caucasian, aged in his early 20s, about 173cm tall with an average build.

He was wearing a striped hooded top, a black beanie and had a yellow bandana covering his face at the time of the incident.

Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au

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Doubt on arson and assault victim's story

A GOLD Coast man who claims he was pushed against a burning car has been charged with arson and attempted fraud.

The 50-year-old man told police he was walking to his car at Nerang about 11.45pm on April 1 when he noticed two men nearby.

The man was taken to hospital in Brisbane with serious burns.

A police spokesman said investigations into the incident revealed holes in the man's story, but would not comment on the nature of the fraud.

The man will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on May 17.

View the original article here

Doubt on arson and assault victim's story

A GOLD Coast man who claims he was pushed against a burning car has been charged with arson and attempted fraud.

The 50-year-old man told police he was walking to his car at Nerang about 11.45pm on April 1 when he noticed two men nearby.

The man was taken to hospital in Brisbane with serious burns.

A police spokesman said investigations into the incident revealed holes in the man's story, but would not comment on the nature of the fraud.

The man will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on May 17.

View the original article here

Trauma victims 'sent home too soon'

Patients were pleased with the medical care but many were stressed or confused about their discharge. Source: Supplied

SEVERELY injured Victorians feel they are being sent home from hospital trauma centres too soon, unprepared to cope with their recovery, a study has found.

Also, many patients reported delays in surgery and believed this hindered their recovery and unnecessarily prolonged their overall stay in hospital.

Monash University researchers conducted one of the largest studies of trauma victims' perceptions of their care.

And they have called for an overhaul in how patients are treated after discharge from hospital.

Associate Professor Belinda Gabbe said patients were pleased with the medical care.

But many were stressed or confused about their discharge, and thought it happened too quickly and without enough information to prepare them to cope.

"Many felt insufficiently informed to make decisions about their treatment and rehabilitation choices, leading to a lack of trust in their clinical management," the study, published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia, says.

Interviews with 120 adult patients treated at the major trauma centres at The Alfred or Royal Melbourne hospitals found almost universal criticism of outpatient services.

A 37-year-old regional patient who was involved in a traffic accident said: "I drive down there, sit in traffic, sit in the waiting room for over three hours, and then spend 10 minutes with a different doctor to the one I saw last time."

A female road crash patient, 34, also complained: "I've spent five hours here to speak to a very junior doctor and get dodgy advice ... I'm going to go private."

A man, 35, suffering multiple injuries, complained he lost weight while fasting day after day waiting for surgery - only for it to be cancelled when a more serious case arose.

Patients said there was a lack of communication on wards, an impersonal process, and poor communication that meant they could not understand their prognosis.

Others said they missed vital information because they were too affected by their injuries, or heavily medicated.

grant.mcarthur@news.com.au

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