Police News

Probably a write-off.

Alleged Crimes of the East

Words Gary Larson

Gas bottle causes car explosion

A man was injured when a gas bottle exploded in his car parked at the south end of Maroubra Beach. Police said it was a self-harm attempt.

Miraculously, the 63-year-old man did not suffer much in the way of harm. He escaped with minor burns when the gas bottle exploded with huge force as he sat in the driver seat. An ambulance took him to hospital.

The explosion destroyed the vehicle, blowing out the windows, bending the doors and launching the boot lid into the air.

TV presenter charged with assault

Andrew O’Keefe, host of the Seven Network quiz show The Chase Australia, has been charged with assaulting a woman in a Randwick unit.

Police said 41-year-old Dr Orly Lavee “had allegedly been assaulted in a domestic violence related incident.” The offence is said to have taken place in the early hours of the morning.

O’Keefe, 49, was arrested at 3.30am in a street near the unit. He was taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with common assault and granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Court. Police applied for a provisional apprehended violence order which prohibits O’Keefe from approaching or contacting Dr Lavee, a haematologist at St Vincent’s Hospital.

A former lawyer and son of a NSW Supreme Court judge, O’Keefe was a founder and one-time chairman of domestic violence charity the White Ribbon Foundation.

Manhunt over Coogee stabbing

Police have released the description of a man believed responsible for a frenzied knife attack in a Coogee unit.

Police say the man demanded money before launching his attack on the 33-year-old male occupant of the Mount Street unit. His victim did not hand over any money and the knifeman fled. The stabbed man was rushed to hospital where he underwent multiple emergency surgeries for wounds to his stomach, back and arms.

Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended and established a crime scene which was examined by specialist forensic police. Investigators believe the man used a ride-share service to attend and leave Mount Street and are treating the incident as targeted.

Police describe the attacker as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his early 20s, between 170cm and 180cm tall, of medium build, with short black hair that is shaved on the sides and back.

Alleged paedophile appears in court

A 38-year-old Bondi man has appeared in court charged with four counts of indecently assaulting a young boy.

Police alleged in Waverley Court that the man indecently assaulted his victim - then aged between nine and 12 - on several occasions between 2014 and 2016.

Tigers go wild outside pub

Wests Tigers players Zane Musgrove and AJ Kepaoa were arrested after allegedly abusing police outside the Coogee Bay Hotel in the early hours of the morning.

Officers attended the pub at around 3am and spoke to security guards who had refused entry to several people.

“Police spoke to a group of people outside, directing them to leave the vicinity when two men allegedly became abusive, refusing to do so,” police said.

Musgrove, 24, and Kepaoa, 20, were arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station. Both were released without charge but Kepaoa copped a $550 onthe-spot fine for remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises after being excluded.

Lock your car and don’t leave valuables inside

Eastern Suburbs Police have noticed a recent increase in thefts from parked vehicles.

Suburbs targeted include Watsons Bay, Bondi and North Bondi, Bondi Junction, Queens Park and Centennial Park.

Police urge drivers to take the following steps when they park: • Lock up every time. • Never leave valuables in your vehicle. • Park in a safe, well-lit area close to your destination.

Report all thefts to the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or via the online Community Portal at portal.police.nsw.gov.au.

Alarming find

The Bomb Squad was called in after a suspicious-looking apparatus was reported in a garbage bin outside a home on Anzac Parade, Maroubra.

Anzac Parade was closed as bomb disposal specialists wearing Kevlar vests approached the device, which turned out to be… two discarded smoke alarms. Better to be safe than sorry!

Randwick News

While the official months of summer have drawn to a close, there are still warm days ahead to enjoy our outdoor spaces. Our outdoor staff work hard, rising before the sun to clean our beaches, parks, reserves and amenities so they’re ready for the thousands of visitors we welcome each day. I think they do a fantastic job and want to acknowledge their hard work. If you see them while you’re out and about give them a smile and a wave.

I also want to thank our waste services team who have overseen the roll out of our new FOGO service, which started on Monday 1 March. Every household will have received their new green lid FOGO bin, which accepts all food scraps and garden waste, as well as a new kitchen caddy and compostable bags.

You can keep the caddy in the kitchen, line it with one of the green compostable bags we have given you and fill it with food scraps, including leftovers, takeaway food, bones, dairy or even used paper towels. When full, tie the bag and take it out to your green lid bin. We’ll collect and empty this bin every week now. All FOGO waste will be taken to a facility that will turn it into nutrient-rich compost.

You can pick up new supplies of compostable bags free of charge at our Libraries, Recycling Centre or Admin Centre in Randwick. If you have any other questions, head to our website and look for our FOGO FAQs. Thanks for being part of this fantastic new initiative. Together, we’re looking after our environment and preserving it for the next generation.

Councillor Danny Said

Mayor of Randwick

1300 722 542 randwick.nsw.gov.au

What’s On

3 MARCH SPARK IN THE PARK (FOR AGES 0-3)

10am – Noon Randwick Community Centre Free, bookings are essential

EVERY THURSDAY CHESS CLUB FOR ADULTS

1.30pm-3pm Lionel Bowen Library, Maroubra

7 MARCH CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

Various times, various suburbs

EVERY FRIDAY REGEN WORKSHOP SERIES

Setting sustainability goals 1.30pm – 2.30pm Online via Zoom

25 MARCH DUNNINGHAM RESERVE BUSHCARE

9am – 11am 5-7 Major Street, Coogee