Petrol changeover linked to crime rise

Police at remote Ngukurr in Arnhem Land have reported a big increase in local crime since the community switched its bowser to a petrol that cannot be used by sniffers.

Ngukurr is one of a growing number of communities that has introduced Opal fuel, to make it harder for youngsters to sniff petrol.

But the move has forced sniffers to resort to burglary and theft to find the last unleaded fuel in the community.

Local police chief Peter Lindfield says sniffers are breaking in to homes, cars and businesses to get their hands on petrol.

"They're brazen enough to come into the police station, we've obviously had some entries to our compound at the rear here, between 8.30pm til 2:00 to 3:00am," he said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 06 August 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
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Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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