A SPATE of illegal dirt bike activity has residents upset and, in some cases, worried about the safety of young children and pets.
On what should have been a quiet evening, Monday, November 11, a pair of dirt bikes were spotted tearing around Killa Lakes near Gordan Drive, Sanctuary Drive, Marlboro Drive, Settlers Drive and Vibert Reserve while kids were cricket training nearby. While these riders were wearing helmets, they weren’t displaying licence plates and rode on public parkland, walking trails and roads illegally.
Not all dirt bikes spotted riding illegally on public land adhere to the common-sense notion of wearing a helmet. Often riders seen coming down Hasset Street before driving on the walking tracks along the Broken and Goulburn Rivers will be without helmets and basic safety gear.
Many residents are fed up with the hoons ripping around what should be peaceful walkways and quiet streets. They are angry at the lack of response from local police. The trouble is catching a dirt bike riding on a walking path is like trying to catch smoke with your hands, by the time the police are called the bikes are often long gone.
Despite this, Acting Senior Sergeant Ted Graham from Benalla Highway Patrol has urged residents to keep reporting these dangerous riders to the police.
“It’s a difficult job as it is. We rely heavily on our community to provide us with as much information as possible, to let us try and track these people down,” said Acting Senior Sergeant Graham.
“The Shepparton Police are aware of these riders. We are calling for the public to come forward with any information they have on the identity of these riders.”
If you know anything about these dangerous riders or crime in the local area, you can make an anonymous report to crime-stoppers at crimestoppersvic.com.au, by calling 1800 333 000, or by contacting the local police station at (03) 5820 5777.
