UPDATE, MARCH 18: Police are now only seeking seven of the offenders.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
UPDATE, MARCH 15: Police are now only seeking eight of the offenders.
UPDATE 12.15pm: Police are now only seeking nine of the people with warrants for their arrests.
Watch today’s launch here:
EARLIER: Victoria Police and Crime Stoppers will today launch a three-week campaign to help find some of the region’s most wanted people.
Each week, for three weeks, Bendigo police and Crime Stoppers Victoria will release the names and images of people with outstanding arrest warrants for property-related crime.
They are appealing for the community’s help in locating offenders and driving down crime.
The names and images of the first 10 wanted people were released today.
“Each wanted person is known to either frequent the Bendigo area or have an association with the area in some way, so we believe someone in Bendigo must know where they are,” Bendigo Superintendent Darren Franks said.
He was confident many of the wanted persons were still in the Bendigo area.
“There is a very high likelihood that these people will continue to offend so we are asking everyone to keep an eye out and call Crime Stoppers if you have any information,” the superintendent said.
He said a small number of offenders might be active across a number of crime categories.
“Someone who is wanted for a burglary may have stolen a vehicle, this vehicle could be used in another crime. There is a lot of crossover in these crime categories,” Superintendent Franks said.
“This campaign is just one example of how we are continuing to target thieves in Bendigo and keep our community safe from crime, but we need the community to help us.”
A similar initiative in Ballarat, in September, resulted in 17 of the 23 wanted persons being located and arrested by police during the campaign period.
Another five arrests were made after the campaign ended.
More than 36,632 residential burglaries were reported to Victoria Police from October 2015 to September 2016.
Crime Stoppers Victoria general manager Cathy Rhodes said the number of reported burglaries had increased statewide.
“This is not a problem that is isolated to Bendigo,” she said.
However, she said the community was vital to helping stop and solve crime.
“There are very real and potentially long lasting impacts to people who are victims of crime and together we can make real steps to prevent it,” Ms Rhodes said.
“So please, if you know who these people are, or if you have information relating to any other crime, we urge you to report what you know confidentially to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or on our website at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
“All information received is handled in utmost confidence. There is no caller ID or IP tracing.”
She advised people affected by crime to contact the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817 for assistance.
DETAILS OF THE OFFENDERS:
Craig BUTTON
DATE OF BIRTH: 19 June, 1967
HEIGHT: 170cm
BUILD: Solid
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Black
COMPLEXION: Dark
Craig BUTTON failed to appear at the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on 9 April, 2013, in relation to multiple alleged burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles that occurred in Goornong during September 2012.
There are currently two outstanding warrants for the arrest of the 49-year-old.
BUTTON is known to frequent and/or have association with Bendigo and the surrounding areas.
He is further known to frequent Echuca and the surrounding areas, as well as southern New South Wales
Bradley COX
DATE OF BIRTH: 22 July, 1988
HEIGHT: 170cm
BUILD: Medium
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Black
COMPLEXION: Fair
Bradley COX failed to appear at the Echuca Magistrate s Court on 28 March, 2014, in relation to an alleged burglary and criminal damage that occurred in Echuca during September 2005. There is currently one outstanding warrant for the arrest of the 28-year-old. COX is known to frequent and/or have association with Bendigo and the surround areas.
He is further known to frequent Echuca, Smithton in Tasmania, and surrounding areas.
Zachery PEARCE
DATE OF BIRTH: 28 April, 1993
HEIGHT: 180cm
BUILD: Thin
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Blonde/Brown
COMPLEXION: Olive
Zachery PEARCE failed to appear at the Kerang Magistrates' Court on 21 May, 2012 in relation to an alleged burglary related incident that occurred in Boort and Wedderburn in April 2011.
There are currently two outstanding warrants for the arrest of the 23-year-old. He is known to frequent and/or have an association with Bendigo and the surrounding area.
PEARCE is known to frequent Boort and surrounding areas.
Tonilee BELL
DATE OF BIRTH: 24 September, 1987
HEIGHT: 165cm
BUILD: Medium
EYES: Blue
HAIR: Black
COMPLEXION: Fair
Tonilee BELL failed to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court on 1 June, 2016 in relation to an alleged burglary that occurred in Echuca in April, 2016. There are currently three outstanding warrants for the arrest of the 29-year-old. She is known to frequent and/or have an association with Bendigo and the surrounding area. BELL is known to frequent Echuca, Jamisontown NSW and surrounding areas.
Shaun HALL
DATE OF BIRTH: 15 December, 1984
HEIGHT: 178cm
BUILD: Thin
EYES: Blue
HAIR: Brown
COMPLEXION: Fair
Shaun HALL failed to appear at the Echuca Magistrates’ Court on 6 January, 2009 in relation to an alleged burglary that occurred in Tongala in November 2008. There are currently two outstanding warrants for the arrest of the 32-year-old. He is known to frequent and/or have an association with Bendigo and the surrounding area. HALL is further known to frequent Kyabram, Tongala, Stanley TAS and surrounding areas.