Geraldton police acting OIC Adrian Geary spreads messages about stolen property, safe driving

Geraldton police’s acting officer-in-charge has urged the community to drive safe in wet weather, as well as issued a reminder to lock away valuables to avoid being an easy target for thieves and burglars. Sen. Sgt Adrian Geary said he had noticed quite a few road users were not turning their lights on to remain visible during this week’s stormy weather. “It’s just a reminder, most drivers here are used to summer conditions, and when it does rain, people forget to turn their lights on,” he said. Sen. Sgt Geary said the community should be reminded to practise safe distances between vehicles. “Give other drivers that little bit of distance as well when you’re travelling at speed,” he said. The general rule is to stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front. If the weather or road conditions are poor, the Road Safety Commission recommends increasing your following distance. Penalties of $200 and two demerit points apply for failing to follow vehicles at a safe distance. “Even when you’re not travelling at speed, bear in mind pedestrians when you are reversing or driving into car parking spaces,” Sen. Sgt Geary said. Lock it up seems to be a message on repeat between police officers and residents, and Sen. Sgt Geary said it doesn’t seem to stick. “Most of the crime that seems to be happening recently is that opportunistic person who walks past someone’s address and has taken a bike, or power tools, or things that aren’t locked up,” he said. “If you value your property, lock it up.” Although local officers have a knack for recovering property, he said it would ease pressures on the force if people were vigilant about securing their goods. “We’re currently sitting at around 57 per cent clearance rate — which means we’re getting 57 per cent of our crooks arrested for these offences — if you lock it up, we don’t have to pursue them as rigorously as we are.”