Burdett man reported for burning off during fire danger season
Plus a police chase starts in Murray Bridge, a thief targets parked cars and a truckie gets in trouble twice in three days.
A Burdett man will face court after allegedly starting a burn-off during fire danger season.
SA Police reported the 41-year-old on Tuesday evening, after the Country Fire Service had to come and put out the fire in a paddock.
Ten acres were burnt on a property on Mitchell Avenue, not far from Avoca Dell.
Police allege that the man did not have a schedule nine permit from the CFS, and did not have any firefighting equipment or other means to control the fire.
It was the second time in three weeks police had been asked to intervene after a fire in the Murraylands.
They fined a 58-year-old Nairne man $565 on November 18, when he was alleged to have started a fire without a permit on Ferry Road at Wellington East.
“Fires caused by deliberate, reckless or negligent behaviour not only destroy communities and properties but have the potential to kill,” SA Police said in a statement.
Extra restrictions apply during the fire danger season, which started on November 15 in the Murraylands and will end on April 15.
- Report a fire: Call 000.
- Report suspicious behaviour: Call 131 444.
Police chase ends with teenager’s arrest
Police have arrested a teenaged boy after a high-speed chase which began in Murray Bridge on Friday night.
Traffic officers allegedly spotted a Ford sedan travelling at 80 kilometres per hour in a 50 zone on Christian Road.
When they tried to pull the car over, around 2am, it allegedly sped away.
Police then followed it for almost 100 kilometres along the South Eastern Freeway to Crafers and through the Adelaide Hills.
They laid road spikes on Greenhill Road at Balhannah, puncturing its tyres, but it did not stop until it got to Oakbank, a few kilometres further along.
Police then arrested the driver, a 16-year-old from Mile End.
They allegedly found a knife and a knuckle duster in his car, too.
The driver was granted bail but will face a range of charges at Mount Barker Youth Court on January 13.
Cars broken into on Melaleuca Way
Police have warned everyone not to leave valuables in parked cars after several were broken into in Murray Bridge last Wednesday.
Early in the morning, a thief worked his or her way along Melaleuca Way, breaking into cars parked in driveways.
Stolen were an ARB Element car fridge, a dual battery system and four life jackets.
Anyone with CCTV footage taken in the area at the time should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestopperssa.com.au.
To avoid having your car broken into, police advise:
- Don’t leave valuable items or keys visible within your car
- Lock doors and close windows
- Park in a garage, or a well-lit area, at night
Truckie caught driving defected vehicle, while high, again
A man whose truck was defected on the Mallee Highway last Monday, and who allegedly tested positive to methamphetamine at the time, has been caught doing exactly the same thing again.
Police stopped the same B-double at Peake on Wednesday afternoon, and allegedly found the safety problems for which they had defected it – a cracked chassis and bald tyres – had not been fixed.
The driver, a 41-year-old Parafield Gardens man, allegedly tested positive to methamphetamine again.
Officers directed him not to drive for 24 hours, and to have the truck fixed immediately.
“The onset of the harvest season increases truck movements on our regional highway network,” SA Police said in a statement.
“Poor vehicle roadworthiness, combined with drug driving, poses a significant risk to road users.
“Police will continue to provide a highly visible presence on the state’s regional highways to deter such risk-taking behaviour.”
- Report erratic or unsafe driving: 131 444.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly suggested Christian Road, Murray Bridge was a 60km/h zone, based on information from SA Police.
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