Southside operation halves burglary rates

A property-reduction task force created to target property offenders in the Tuggeranong region has proved a resounding success with police laying more than 55 charges and cutting the burglary rate in half.

Operation Fulmer, a collaborative team made up of Tuggeranong General Duties members, Territory Investigations Group Property Crime Team investigators and ACT Policing Intelligence officers, resulted in 22 people being apprehended and thousands of dollars worth of alleged stolen property recovered.

Formed following an increase in burglaries in the Tuggeranong suburbs of Gordon, Conder, Banks, Wanniassa and Kambah, the team of plain-clothes officers targeted a number of persons of interest, leading to the burglary rate in those suburbs dropping from 30 offences in May 2008, to 14 offences by the end of the operation on June 25.

Included in property seized by officers during the operation was six motorcycles, two motor vehicles and a cross country bike valued at more than $2000. Police also seized cannabis from one alleged offender.

Of concern to police was that out of the 22 alleged offenders apprehended, all but six were juveniles (under 18) and all but one lived in the Tuggeranong zone.

Sergeant Jeff Knight, the Officer in Charge of Tuggeranong Police Station, praised the efforts of the operations team.

“This is a significant success for ACT Policing and for the people who reside in the Tuggeranong region,” Sergeant Knight said.

“People in the community should feel assured that ACT Policing places great emphasis on property offences and we will engage all parts of our organisation to ensure offenders are identified and brought before court.”