RELATED: Bendigo’s most wanted
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UPDATE WEDNESDAY 8.45am: Police are now only seeking 8 of the 20 wanted as part of the Bendigo Crime Crackdown Campaign.
EARLIER: Police are chasing nine more criminals as they enter the third and final week of a coordinated campaign to target property-based offenders.
Eleven criminals have either been caught or handed themselves in the ‘Bendigo’s most wanted’ crackdown, with police grateful for the “massive amount of response from the community”.
Superintendent Darren Franks said community policing provided an extra dimension of support for police officers.
“One of the positives we would like to come out of this is that it’s not just police keeping an eye out fore burglars, it’s people in the street, people driving down the road, perhaps others workers that are in the street at the time,” Superintendent Franks said.
The “tremendous amount of information” police had to work through, gave police a better understanding of the local criminal landscape, Superintendent Franks said.
“It gives us a rough idea of who’s active as far as committing offences and what areas they may be active in,” Superintendent Franks said.
“We can talk about enforcement and locking people up to reduce crime. Another aspect is, when we get in touch with these people we ensure they’re refereed to services to help them with issues such as family violence, drug and alcohol addiction.”
Referring to one criminal who taunted police on social media, Superintendent Franks said: “We had one chap who decided to take us on via social media and suggested we couldn’t get him. My understanding is that we picked him up that day and he was remanded.”
Police believe these community-targeted campaigns are helping reduce high-volume crime in the region.
“These things (burglaries, car thefts) do happen, they happen next door, they happen in our back yard,” Bendigo Inspector Shane Brundell said.
“It goes to show police can do everything on our own. We are just one piece of the jigsaw puzzle when it comes to tackling crime issues,” Inspector Brundell said.
“Getting the community on board working in partnership with police is the way we need to go with these types of crimes.”
To make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers call 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au, or make a donation via the website.
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.
Gary MEAKER
DATE OF BIRTH: 31 December, 1981
HEIGHT: 173cm
BUILD: Thin
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Brown
COMPLEXION: Fair
Gary MEAKER failed to appear at the Echuca Magistrates' Court on 1 March, 2016, in relation to an alleged burglary and handling of stolen goods that occurred in Bendigo during December 2015. There are currently six outstanding warrants for the arrest of the 35-year-old. MEAKER
Is known to frequent and/or have association with Bendigo and surrounding areas.
He is further known to frequent Echuca, Lavington in New South Wales, 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.
