Neighbourhood Watch in
Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby
eNewsletter #526 - 09 November 2021
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This weekly eNewsletter is compiled by Neighbourhood Watch volunteers as a service for residents in Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby council areas. The eNewsletter is a new type of Neighbourhood Watch; utilising the available technology to keep people more connected and up-to-date with local crime and safety issues.
The eNewsletter includes a selection of posts from our local police at the Ku-ring-gai PAC Facebook page (also known as 'eyewatch'), primarily for those not familiar with Facebook. We add anything interesting from a Neighbourhood Watch point-of-view - this could be a local newspaper article, a roadwork warning, crime prevention tip(s), an upcoming Neighbourhood Watch meeting, Q&As from residents, or an item from another Police command ("Crooks know no boundaries!").
🚓 Have you seen anything we should share with the community? Please email our NHW in Ku-ring-gai & Hornsby volunteers. We do value your contributions and thank you for your support.
🚓 Please feel free to share/forward this eNewsletter with your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.
🚓 Reading our eNewsletter for the first time? Click here to subscribe.
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09 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: LAST 24 HOURS IN THE COMMAND
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS:
5 x Domestic violence incident
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT:
1 x Domestic violence assault
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
1 x Telecommunications offence
BREAK AND ENTER:
Wahroonga - break and enter – car and house keys stolen
STEAL FROM MOTOR VEHICLE:
Wahroonga
Turramurra
MALICIOUS DAMAGE:
Gordon – graffiti
Pymble – taxi windscreen smashed
FRAUD:
Selling fraud
NEIGHBOUR DISPUTE:
Wahroonga
Hornsby Heights
ASSAULT:
Turramurra - Assault / custody of a knife in public place
TRAFFIC:
3 x collisions
2 x Fail stop and exchange details
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08 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: Investigations underway after death of woman - Berowra Heights
Sunday, 07 November 2021 08:21:12 PM
An investigation is underway following the death of a woman in Berowra Heights today. About 1pm (Sunday 7 November 2021), emergency services were called to a location on Wideview Road, Berowra Heights following reports a 63-year-old woman was seriously injured after falling while abseiling.
Emergency services treated her at the scene, however, she was unable to be revived. Three other people, two women and a man, were rescued off a rock ledge and brought to safety by officers from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and Fire and Rescue NSW. A crime scene has been established and Ku-ring-gai detectives and crime scene specialist officers have commenced inquiries into the circumstances of the incident. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
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08 November, from NSW Road Safety: It is recommended children over 7 years of age use either a booster seat, a forward-facing seat with an in-built harness, or an approved child safety harness in conjunction with the vehicle’s seat belt until they can pass the five-step test to wear the vehicle's seat belt.
This five-step test can help assess whether your child is big enough to be safely restrained by a seatbelt. Answering Yes to each step means your child is ready for a seatbelt. The child should be able to:
- Sit all the way back against the seat back
- Bend their knees comfortably over the front edge of the vehicle seat
- Sit with the sash belt across their mid-shoulder
- Sit with the lap belt across the top of their thighs
- Stay seated in this position for the whole trip.
Find out more in the FAQs here.
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05 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
You receive a text message on your mobile phone which claims to be from a provider and the messages instruct you to click on the link to track your order, or visit the site, or last chance to collect your parcel. What would you do?
- 1. Click on the link provided, hoping the parcel is for you? (even though you know you never ordered anything in the first place)
- 2. Click on the link out of curiosity?
- 3. Click on the link and follow the instructions without question?
- 4. Open the message without even reading it because it looks official?
- 5. Delete the message immediately without opening it.
Yes, all the above have been done. [The correct answer is 5. - Ed]
Have a great weekend!
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05 November, from NSW Police: NSW Police Force are reminding motorists travelling across the state this weekend to slow down, be patient and drive to the conditions after nine people tragically lost their lives on NSW roads this week.
Motorists can expect delays and increased traffic on the roads in areas across the state ahead of the first weekend since regional travel resumed for vaccinated residents on Monday (1 November 2021).
Full Media Release here.
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05 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR COPPER THIEVES WITHIN THE COMMAND.
Telstra are currently in the process of migrating their old network from a "copper network" to their new NBN network (which utilises optical fibres). As a result, we are seeing thieves, masquerading as workers stealing copper from their locations.
If you see someone taking copper from the pits, please give us a call immediately as some of the operators are posing as Telstra employees or contractors.
If we know, then we can at a minimum, speak with them and check their bonafides as to whether they are employed by Telstra or a thief. We are not asking you to approach these people, simply, to call us please
Ways of reporting to police:
“000” Triple Zero for emergency or life-threatening situations
“131444” Police Assistance Line (PAL) for non-emergencies
“1800 333 000” Crime Stoppers – to provide crime information
Hornsby Police 9476 9799
Gordon Police 9418 5399
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05 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: Ku-ring-gai PAC Week in Review
Another fairly busy week in the command, with a unit fire to add to the mix. The unit was destroyed, but fortunately no persons were injured.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS:
11 x Domestic violence incidents
5 x DV Assaults
BREACH AVO:
1 x breach AVO conditions
ROBBERY:
Waitara
UNIT FIRE:
Asquith – total loss
BREAK AND ENTER:
Turramurra – BE and steal
Gordon – BE with intent to steal
Gordon – attempt B&E
Pymble - BE and steal
STEAL FROM DWELLING:
South Turramurra
Hornsby - Steal parcels
St Ives
STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE:
Warrawee
STEAL FROM MOTOR VEHICLE:
Hornsby Westfield car park – Vehicle unlocked - 1x Backpack containing wallet and bank cards, driver’s licence and cash
Wahroonga – Illura Ave
St Ives – catalytic converters from vehicle
Gordon – stolen registration plates
STEALING:
Galston – stolen bicycle
Turramurra – Copper theft
TRAFFIC:
St Ives - Motor vehicle / pedestrian collision
Mount Colah – Breach bail conditions – Not stop at stop line – Drive whilst disqualified
Wahroonga – Drive with illicit drug in system
Wahroonga - M1 Speeding / Drive with illicit drug in system
Wahroonga – Fail to stop and exchange details
Thornleigh – traffic collision – injury
St Ives – Single vehicle collision – Neg Drive
SCAMS:
Hornsby Obtain funds by deception
Killara – Puppy scam
FRAUD:
Hornsby – Unauthorised access of funds
East Lindfield – Money transfer scam
Turramurra – identity theft
BLACKMAIL:
Thornleigh – Obtain funds / threaten to post sexual videos
FAIL TO PAY FOR FUEL:
Thornleigh
MALICIOUS DAMAGE:
Hornsby North Public School
Killara – vehicles etched/scratched
Berowra – explosion at Berowra soccer oval
DRUGS:
South Turramurra - 5 x males moved on from Auluba Reserve bushland
NEIGHBOUR DISPUTE:
Hornsby - Harassment intimidation
St Ives
Normanhurst
ASSAULT:
St Ives
Hornsby
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04 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: Would you do it?
- Buy a puppy at a price that seems too good to be true?
- Buy a puppy that is offered with free shipping?
- Buy a puppy that you are not able to pick up, but only have delivered to you?
- Buy a puppy you haven’t seen in the flesh?
- Buy a puppy and only be able to pay with debit card or money transfer only?
- Buy a puppy where the seller only messages you and doesn’t speak directly with you?
After considering these points, you probably wouldn't but sometimes emotions overtake the logic behind a purchase such as this. We are continuing to receive reports from people who are being scammed through the purchase of a puppy. Please do your research first before purchasing a puppy. You’ll save yourself a lot of heartache and money.
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03 November, from Ku-ring-gai command: What would you do?
You are travelling north upon Pacific Highway between Hornsby and Berowra. You see two cyclists riding in the nearest vehicular lane to the curb with a clear lane beside them marked with a painted bicycle. What would you do?
- 1. Merge into the second lane and pass them annoyed that they weren't using the lane allocated to them?
- 2. Drive up behind them beeping your horn because they should be using the lane marked with a painted bike?
- 3. As you pass them, wind your window down and let them know what you're thinking about them using a vehicle lane instead of the lane marked with a painted bicycle?
- 4. Merge into the second lane and pass them keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres (as when travelling over 60kph you must keep at least 1.5 metres distance between you and the nearest bike), because you know the lane with a bicycle painted on it is deemed the safest place for the cyclists to ride but isn't a designated bike lane and that they are entitled to ride in the vehicular lane if they so choose because of opening door hazards, debris in the lane or the lane is too narrow to accommodate the riders.
(4) The answer is DEFINITELY (4).
Please drive and ride carefully.
A lane is not a designated ‘Bike Lane’ unless it has BOTH the image of a bicycle and the word LANE on the sign.
A similar sign defines the end of a ‘Bike Lane’ with the image of a bicycle and the words ‘LANE’ and ‘END’ depicted on the sign.
A clear lane with a bike painted on it does NOT indicate that it is a ‘Bike Lane’, which many of us believe it to be. It indicates that it is the safest place for the cyclists to ride on that road. But cyclists are entitled to ride within a vehicular lane, even if there is a clear lane beside them.
Some reasons cyclists may venture out from this lane may be that they are riding in a group, the lane they are in is unsafe with broken edges, debris or gravel across it, too narrow, too close to cars where a door may be opened on the rider etc.
If, however, a lane exists for bicycles that has both an image of a bicycle and the word ‘LANE’ painted on it or a signpost at the beginning of the lane with the words ‘Bike Lane’ printed on it, then this IS a ‘Bike Lane’ and must be used by cyclists unless it is impractical for them to do so.
What could ‘impractical’ be? Something blocking the lane such as debris or rubble that makes it unsafe to ride in that lane, or perhaps a car that is parked near the lane and there is a possibility a car door is opened on to the rider.
Be safe out there - The road is there to share.
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Re: last week's eNewsletter 29 October question about driving through Galston Gorge when you come up behind a cyclist riding uphill: What would you do?
The answer given later in the comments:
Ok, some interesting answers here, not all would we condone, but this is a scenario many have come across in the past and most likely will in the future.
The answer of course is 5. (Wait until there is no oncoming traffic and it is safe to overtake them, keeping at least a 1 metre distance between them and your vehicle as you overtake, because the speed limit is 60kph or under).
Motorists are permitted to cross the double centre lines if overtaking a cyclist in a scenario such as this, but please remember, whenever and wherever you are passing or overtaking a cyclist, you must keep a minimum passing distance of 1 metre if the speed limit is 60kph or below and 1.5 metres if the speed limit is over 60kph. Stay safe and enjoy your weekend.
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Re: last week's eNewsletter 29 October question about seeing a female looking through car windows: What would you do?
The answer given later in the comments:
With 'Steal from Motor Vehicle' ever present in the command, we often come across the fallout from Steal from Motor Vehicles with witnesses and or victims saying there had been a suspicious person looking into cars earlier that day, but they didn’t think anything further of it, or the person had wandered away. It is very important that if you notice someone looking into cars as they are walking down the street, that you call us at the time. If we get that callout it gives us the best opportunity to engage the suspicious person and check whether they were simply admiring the seat covers of the various cars in the street, or looking for, and maybe having in their possession the proceeds of breaking into cars. Please call us and we will do the checking for you.
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Scams and Fraud Awareness Webinar for Seniors: Wednesday 10 November: 10:30-11:30am
For Scams Awareness Week, we have engaged a guest speaker from the Northern Beaches Police Crime Prevention Unit to present on how to spot a scam and what measures you can take so that you are less likely to be a victim of scams and fraud.
This webinar is brought to you by Northern Beaches Council, Hornsby Council Sector Support & Development, the NSW Police Crime Prevention Unit, and is supported by the Councils of the Northern Sydney Region.
More info and booking here.
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09 November, from NSW Food Authority: NAME & SHAME LIST
Weekly update to our list of alleged breaches of NSW food safety standards:
- - 7 premises added
- - 4 premises publication period expired
See the weekly update here.
This week's list includes the PIZZA HUT at GORDON.
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07 November, from Crime Stoppers NSW: Be “SCAM ALERT”
Reputable organisations like financial institutions and the ATO will never ask you for passwords or for access to your computer, just hang up. The best advice we can give to consumers is just hang up, then check if the call is legitimate by calling the organisation they claim to be from using contact details you’ve sourced independently, like a Google search. Never use the contact details associated with the call. Never give out any personal information and if you are concerned you may have been scammed, let your bank know if you’ve given away any banking details and report the scam to Scamwatch.
IDCARE can help you if you have given away personal information.
Our message to the community is simple: Just Hang Up.
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Dates for the Diary
Wednesday 10 November: Scams and Fraud Awareness Webinar for Seniors 10:30-11:30am More info and booking here.
Wednesday 24 November: Gordon/Killara/E. Killara/Pymble/St Ives NHW AGM online via MS Teams @ 7pm. Special guests: S/C Colin Mitchell, Crime Prevention Officer, Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command, and Ruby Koop - Snap Send Solve App. Email us for details. Everyone welcome.
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09 November, from Hornsby Shire Council: More than delightful art – our free 2022 Road Safety Calendar might save a life
Hornsby Shire Council has teamed up with six other northern Sydney councils to present the free 2022 Road Safety Calendar, which this year features delightful illustrations by renowned artist Oscar Nimmo. [edited]
...“These messages can act as a conversation starter for you and your family, friends and colleagues,” said Mr Head....
More info and how to get one, here.
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07 November, from Brooklyn Neighbourhood Watch: Drunken clowns down at the pool again last night!
Council cleaner says toilets were trashed again with cubicle doors and soap holders torn down along with broken glass and tissue strewn everywhere! Not sure how these animals get their kicks out of trashing our facilities? Time council looked at CCTV!
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07 November, Shared with permission from the Berowra Community group:
Might want to tell your kids that its not safe to overtake a car on the right side while the car is turning right. I literally just missed two kids by an inch up near at Coles turning into the car park.
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06 November, from 9News.com.au: Sydneysiders can get cash for empty car spots with new app
A new app is giving Sydneysiders the chance to make money in exchange for empty garages or driveways to solve the city's parking problem.
The NSW Government has partnered with Parkhound and introduced the Park'n'Pay app which helps commuters to search for a shared car space.
The platform allows people to rent out their unused driveways and parking spaces.
Read more here.
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06 November, Shared with permission from the East Wahroonga Community group yesterday (Friday):
Did anyone hear the car / house alarm at 4.20am this morning around Anne place east Wahroonga? Does anyone know if one was stolen or house was broken into. I’ve been told a lot of cars are being stolen around our area at the moment in the early morning hours. Sounded very close. Stay safe and keep a watchful eye out.
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04 November, from the Hornsby Advocate: Behind a paywall.
 Cops have allegedly seized 4kg of cocaine in a car at Pennant Hills Rd before recovering more than $2 million worth of the drug across suburbs including Thornleigh. Find out more here.
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Thank you to Simon for the latest article on behalf of Neighbourhood Watch on page 6 of the November edition of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Post.
And an article from our Crime Prevention Officer on page 8:
The digital version of the HK Post can be accessed here.
Or email us at NHWKuringgaiHornsby@gmail.com
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04 November, from Crime Stoppers NSW:
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04 November, from the Hornsby Advocate: Behind a paywall.
A man who allegedly slashed the back of a cop’s head in Sydney's north has fronted Hornsby court wearing the same torn shirt from the alleged attack. MORE here.
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04 November, from Crime Stoppers NSW: Do you have information about rural crime incidents that will help police put an end to this type of crime?
You can report your information online at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Or call us on 1800 333 000. We don’t need to know who you are, just what you know.
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09 November, from Hornsby Shire Council: Hornsby’s new ‘Disaster Dashboard’ will alert residents to fire, floods and other emergencies
Publish date: 01 / 11 / 2021 [edited]
Hornsby Shire Council is trialing a new online portal to help residents stay safe and receive live updates about any threat to the community – from local COVID-19 outbreaks, to violent storms, to bushfires, to power outages.
Council’s online ‘Disaster Dashboard’ combines real-time information all in one place from a range of emergency services including:
- NSW Rural Fire Service
- The Bureau of Meteorology
- Transport for NSW
- NSW State Emergency Service, and
- The NSW Ministry of Health.
Residents can visit Hornsby Shire’s ‘Disaster Dashboard’ and bookmark the page at https://hornsby.disasterdashboards.com/
Complete Media Release with more info here.
[Image taken Tues 09 Nov @ 3:51pm - Ed]
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Did you know?
It’s against the law (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016) to take frogs or tadpoles from the wild or release unwanted ones.
All the rules, regs and info here.
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From NHW in Ku-ring-gai & Hornsby: 'Our 20 Favourite Crime Prevention Tips concerning Fires"
Tip #5: PLEASE BE ALERT AROUND SCHOOLS DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAY PERIODS AND AT WEEKENDS. Report any suspicious activity or groups of youths. Phone School Security Unit: 1300 880 021.
Tip #6: FOR BUSINESSES, INCLUDE ARSON IN YOUR BUSINESS RISK ASSESSMENT PLAN AND INCLUDE ARSON RISK REDUCTION STRATEGIES IN YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Tip #9: MAINTAIN ADEQUATE LEVELS OF HOME AND CONTENTS INSURANCE. If you underestimate the value of your property, any payout may be reduced accordingly.
Tip #11: ‘VANDALISM-MOTIVATED ARSON’ IS A SPONTANEOUS CATEGORY INVOLVING PEER PRESSURE. Be aware of unusual behaviour, and look for matches, lighters, cigarettes, spray paint cans, hairspray, perfume, tissues, or flammable liquids. Most fires occur in the evening or at night, Friday or Saturday.
For more tips and translations, look at our website 'Tips' page here. Or try our WatchOut! website here, for links to some great information available on the internet. Or request a copy in your inbox here.
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Thanks to David.
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IMPORTANT CONTACTS & LINKS
Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance): 000
TTY: 106
NSW Police - Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command (PAC): 9476 9799
Hornsby Police Station, 292 Peats Ferry Road, Hornsby 2077
Local Police Facebook page: @Kuring Gai PAC
Non-emergency two-way communication
Police Assistance Line (PAL): 131 444
For non-urgent minor crime (Only victims may report.)
NSW Police Community Portal
Online reporting of non-emergency minor crime: lost property, intentional damage, graffiti or theft.
Interpreting & Translating Services: 131 450
NSW Police - website for crime prevention advice
Never be afraid or embarrassed to report a crime, concern or fear you have to the Police. The Police are here to help you.
Crime Stoppers NSW: 1800 333 000
Report crime anonymously
Report suspicious activity ASAP
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