VICTIMS of a spate of break-ins and vandalism in Port Macquarie in the past week are angry at the apparent lack of a police response, although inquiries by News Of The Area have since resulted in a series of follow-up calls.
Three nurses and midwives at Port Macquarie Base Hospital came off night shifts on Saturday and Wednesday to find their car windows smashed and items stolen.
Additionally, cars believed to belong to Touch Football State Cup players and visitors were damaged at motel and hotel carparks on Hastings River Drive.
Car windscreens were also smashed in residential areas and the CWA rooms were broken into.
Days earlier, motorbikes were stolen during a ram raid on Jambali Road.
Each case confirmed to News Of The Area was reported to police – many more incidents have been shared in community forums.
However, there have been no arrests.
“I’m absolutely outraged and devastated,” nurse Marie Corson told NOTA.
The mother of four young children returned to her car on Saturday morning after working overnight, to find its windows smashed, the console and glovebox rifled through and bags and other items stolen.
“I just dropped to the ground and cried,” she told NOTA.
“This is the last place you would think this would happen.”
Instead of police responding to her call, Marie was asked to drive the damaged vehicle, with a missing window and the interior covered in glass, to the Port Macquarie Police Station.
She expected it would be dusted for prints but, instead, was told to “claim on her insurance”.
Marie said she is not covered for this type of damage, so fixing the car and replacing what was stolen will cost at least $1500.
A midwife leaving the hospital around the same time as Marie, also found her parked 4WD damaged.
Speaking on her behalf, a colleague called for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
“Nurses go to work to selflessly help others,” she said.
“The last thing they need after a long shift is a smashed car.”
On Wednesday morning, Marie discovered another vehicle’s windows had been smashed.
It also belonged to a nurse coming off the night shift.
Not only have these incidents sparked community anger that smaller crimes are not being fully investigated, allowing criminals to re-offend, there are concerns that security outside the hospital is lacking.
Cars were parked out the front of the hospital’s main entrance, but there is no CCTV showing what happened.
One staff member told NOTA, “There are no cameras and no extra security staff doing rounds [or] checking carparks.
“Nurses leave at ridiculous times of night – this is very scary.”
Ram-raid
Pete Noble, meanwhile, has security video of the people who broke into HPN Moto Garage at 2.26am on 30 November, damaging property and stealing three motorbikes.
“The thieves entered via the back gate and cut the chain,” he told NOTA.
“They then rammed the rear roller door with an older model Toyota Hilux 2×4 dual cab ute, this is when the alarm activated.”
The destruction of the roller door meant the work vehicle parked on the inside was also damaged.
Three motorbikes were stolen, two were loaded onto the back of the Hilux while security video from a business across the road shows the third being pushed towards Belah Road.
“Fortunately, two bikes – the WR450 and KX450 – were retrieved by walkers on Sunday morning on the Googik track behind the industrial area, where they had been stashed in the bushes.”
“The 2020 KTM 450exc [is still] missing.”
Pete was highly critical of the police response, particularly as they indicated the offenders are known criminals.
“There [was] no transparency with myself as the owner of HPN.
“I made numerous calls and visits to the station to see the status of what was going on, and they look[ed] at me like I’m an idiot.
“These are our customers’ bikes and they need them for Christmas.”
A statement from police on Wednesday afternoon confirmed the bikes had been returned and that officers are now reviewing further CCTV footage from several nearby locations.
Security stepped up
In response to the break-ins and thefts affecting nurses and midwives working the night shift, police say an item of clothing found in one of their damaged cars is now undergoing forensic testing.
They are also canvassing for security footage at that location.
“Property crime continues to be a concern for police and the community,” a spokesperson for NSW Police told NOTA.
“Police respond to these crimes by conducting regular high-visibility and proactive operations to target offenders. “While several arrests have been made in relation to a number of recent incidents, police remain vigilant and continue deploying resources to locate those responsible for property-related offences.
“Reports are reviewed by intelligence officers daily to inform taskings and upcoming police operations across the district.”
Following inquiries from NOTA, a spokesperson for Port Macquarie Base Hospital said carpark security would be stepped up immediately,
The Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) issued the following statement.
“Mid North Coast Local Health District is assisting NSW Police with its investigation into two vehicle break-ins (*now three) that occurred in the Port Macquarie Base Hospital carpark last weekend.
“Staff members whose vehicles were affected were provided with immediate support, which is ongoing.
“Regular after-hours patrols of the hospital car park are conducted by our Health and Security Assistants, both on foot and in vehicles.
“CCTV systems are also in place at the hospital campus.
“In response to these incidents, we have put in place further safety protocols, including an additional security presence in the car park area, to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors to the site.
“We are committed to continually improving safety across our settings.”
Anyone with information about any of these offences is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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