Neighbourhood Watch: STN 1 South YarraRegion 1 Division 2 Stonnington, Victoria, Australia.
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Neighbourhood Watch: STN 1 South Yarra
Region 1 Division 2
Stonnington, Victoria, Australia.
You are here: Home>Newsletters>October 2004
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Newsletter
October, 2004 It's a dog's life - out on the streets CONSIDER yourself considerate? Those of you who answered yes might want to think again. That's because, without realising it, many of you are guilty of making life that little bit more difficult for people who can't see. Do you park on the pavement? Leave your bin out in the street? Throw chewing gum on the ground? Drop litter? Allow your hedges to run wild? All of these actions can pose serious problems for blind people who are trying to navigate their way down a street with the help of a guide dog. Advertising boards and hedges, scaffolding and wheelie bins, discarded chewing gum and broken glass all feature as hazards which blind pedestrians have to negotiate. Marian, who suffers from Retinitis Pigmentosa, said cars parked on pavements, uneven paving slabs, and overhanging trees cause her the most grief. Another problem is chewing gum, which gets stuck in her guide dog's coat, and delivery drivers who leave their doors open across the pavement are another hazard, leaving her to walk straight into them. Today's cluttered street scene is a real hazard to vision-impaired people. Vision-impaired people have received serious facial injuries from sharp, overhanging branches, or have stumbled on uneven pavements. It is not unusual for blind people to walk into footpath A-boards, whilst others have been forced to walk on the road because cars are parked, blocking pavements. If you want to know what would make the blind and visually-impaired see red - if only they could - here are their Top Ten Obstacles: 1 Overgrown hedges and low-hanging branches 2 Cars parked on the pavement 3 Wheelie bins and loose rubbish 4 Advertising A-boards, displays and canopies outside shops 5 Broken glass 6 Badly-maintained pavements 7 Cyclists, scooters and skateboards on pavements 8 Chewing gum 9 Discarded bikes outside shops 10 Lack of barriers around road works You can help blind and vision-impaired pedestrians by: > Regularly trimming any branches overhanging pavements. > Finding another place to park that doesn't block walkways. > Keeping your wheelie bins off the footpath where possible. > If you are a shopkeeper, not displaying 'A' boards and shop displays on the public footpath. > Not dropping litter. Broken glass can cut a guide dog's paws and chewing gum can stick to their hair, which is difficult for a visually impaired person to remove easily, particularly from their paws. > If you are a cyclist, using bicycle tracks where available and avoiding riding on the pavements or abandoning your bikes outside the entrance to shops. Stonnington Council reminds residents that it is your responsibility to keep all trees trimmed back to your property line and to a height of at least three metres. It can take less than a minute for a thief to break into, and steal a car GENERALLY, car thieves can be divided into two categories: the opportunist and/or the professional. The opportunist is a person who may see your car as a means of transport. As an easy target to take on a joy ride, or to use in committing another type of crime. Often when a car has been stolen by an opportunist, and is recovered, it is returned to the owner in a damaged condition. Professional car thieves are motivated differently, and steal cars for profit. They are normally well organised, work in teams and are either after specific car parts or intend to change your car's identity, to resell it later. Car theft in Victoria represents approximately 9% of total reported crime. The recovery rate of vehicles stolen is about 80% however many of these are seriously damaged. Insurance claims amount to over $50,000,000 annually. Victoria Police strategies to combat car theft Operation Vehicle Watch VICTORIA Police continues to re-affirm its reputation as a leader in modern day policing. Victoria Police has initiated a strategic plan developed at preventative, reactive and pro-active measures in addressing the problem of theft of motor car offences. This plan has been formulated by the Theft of Motor Car Steering Committee, chaired by Assistant Commissioner Trevor Thompson. The objective of this committee is to ensure a 10% reduction in the theft of motor car offences in a twelve (12) month period is achieved. Operation TOMCAT MOTOR vehicle theft teams have been established within each Region. These teams will include members from the Criminal Investigation Unit and Regional Response Unit, together with analytical support. (TOMCAT = Theft of Motor Car Action Team) Vehicle Intercept Strategy DIVISIONAL Superintendents will be encouraged to initiate an increased awareness by patrol units in relation to the theft of motor car offences. All patrol units will be given current information concerning the types of vehicles stolen in their patrol zones. Members will be tasked, then requested to intercept and check similar vehicles to the ones identified as being commonly stolen. These checks must be recorded on the mobile duty returns. Shopping Centre Committees DIVISIONAL Superintendents are to utilise existing shopping centre committees in an effort to develop strategies aimed at crime prevention. These committees would be encouraged to consider such things as car park lighting, surveillance cameras, signage and visible mobile security personnel. The exchange of information at these forums is also important. Tips to help reduce Vehicle Theft •Lock your car when paying for fuel. •Don't leave valuables within view, lock them in the boot or take them with you •Don't have personal address on tags attached to car keys. •Don't hide spare car keys anywhere on the car How to keep your bike THE bike fanatic won't ever lose sight of his or her bike, and keeps it inside at all times. If they must lock it up, they choose a high-end u-lock, plus a durable cable lock for added protection and to help lock the front wheel and seat. Products are now available that push security, like lockable frames that destroy the bike if cut, and even u-locks equipped with alarms. But cheaper u-locks are acceptable for even cautious riders, as long as they don't leave their bikes unattended for long periods of time, especially at night. Choose a thick pole to lock the bike to, with a head that the thieves can't slide the lock over, such as a parking meter. Thin poles are easy prey for hacksaws and cutters. Cover your bike with distinctive items, stickers and other knick-knacks that personalize it. Take pictures of the bike, mark it with your license number, and record the serial number. If you absolutely must leave your bike unattended or out of reach for a "few seconds," there are a variety of tricks to thwart quick getaways by thieves: Disable the brakes. Put the bike in the lowest or highest gear to make pedalling difficult, or even slide the chain off. If you have quick-release wheels, remove the front wheel. Most bike experts agree that if you use a u-lock, don't leave your bike for a long period of time, and lock it up properly, your bike will be safe. Next Meeting Acknowledgement: |
Last modified 23 October 2004.