Alleged Crimes of the East

By Gary Larson on February 5, 2021 in News

Meet the Police Mascot
Police mascot Constable Charlie the penguin was a drawcard for kids on a recent visit to the Eastern Beaches. Constable Charlie plays a vital role in educating children about safe adults and safe places in programs such as Walk Safely To School Day. The penguin was chosen as a mascot because the giant sea birds are renowned for protecting their young.

Police Raving Mad About Illegal Gatherings
Police have asked members of the community to get in touch with them if they see illegal rave events being set up. The appeal came after officers were called in to break up a late-night rave party on the outskirts of Port Botany. Malabar Headland, with its party-friendly military fortifications, became the target of the second nocturnal police rave raid within a few weeks. Eastern Beaches Police Area Command is eager to nip such events in the bud before COVID-unsafe crowds start gathering. If you are aware of one, phone CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
Over the holiday period, police broke up a number of other gatherings that were not complying with health restrictions – most spectacularly on Christmas Day afternoon when riot police were called in to help Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command disperse a melee of 300 on the Bronte foreshore. Some of the Bronte group later reconvened on the lawns of Centennial Park (they were easy to recognise because of the proliferation of Santa hats). Police swooped again and issued ‘move on’ directives.
On Boxing Day evening, a party at an address in Blair Street, North Bondi was broken up by police and eleven $1,000 fines issued. There were many other partygoers, but most of the group scattered when police appeared.

Holiday Violence
The holiday period in the Eastern Suburbs was marred by the murder of a Coogee retiree, a cat slaying and two life-threatening assaults.
Peter McCarthy, 77, was allegedly beaten to death in his Elphinstone Road, South Coogee flat. A 36-year-old woman, said to be a resident of the same unit block, has appeared before Waverley Court charged with murder and obtaining financial advantage by deception.
In another dreadful incident, a kitten died after being hurled against a wall in Bronte. A man is before the courts.
In the Bondi area, Christmas Eve did not turn out to be a time of peace and goodwill for a pair of assault victims. At 4.50pm at Bondi Beach, a man was punched in the face and fell backwards, hitting his head. He was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital. At 11.30pm a 22-year-old man was felled in an assault beside a bus stop in Bondi Junction. He was also kicked in the head, causing bleeding to the brain and another ambulance dash to St Vincent’s. As medics worked to stabilise him, police arrested a 20-year-old Darlinghurst man for the assault.

Plainclothes Policeman Injured by Drug Suspect
Police are hunting the driver of a red Ford Fiesta who injured a plainclothes policeman trying to question him about drug offences.
The incident occurred when officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were patrolling the Bondi Junction area targeting drug related crime.
Officers drove their unmarked vehicle, with police lights activated, into a driveway at the rear of a block of units in Hollywood Avenue, attempting to speak with a man in a red Ford Fiesta.
Getting out of their vehicle, officers presented their police identification to the Fiesta driver, but he accelerated towards the officers and hit one of them, causing him to spin around and be dragged by the car. The suspect then sped away.
The male constable was taken to hospital for treatment of soft tissue injuries to his left leg and wrist. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Parcel Theft Warning
Police have urged residents to be on guard against doorstep thieves after noticing a steep increase in packages being stolen from outside Eastern Suburbs homes.
“Most couriers will allow you to choose whether or not you would like to sign for your package upon successful delivery,” said Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command. “This means that packages cannot be left behind unattended by the courier. Instead, it will be sent to your nearest post office or facility for you to collect.”
If you can’t be at home to receive a parcel, think about getting it delivered to your work address or using a parcel locker.