Operation Rafborough a success

Police set up operations across Rockingham to target property crimes over the school holiday period.

Rockingham police teamed up with the Traffic Enforcement Group for one part of Operation Rafborough, running from July 11 to 24, at the weekend.

The operation was implemented by Rockingham police to respond to an anticipated increase in property crimes in the Rockingham area over the school holiday period.

The Sound Telegraph attended a booze bus operation set up along Safety Bay road in Baldivis at 8pm on Friday.

Within the first five minutes of the Traffic Enforcement Group starting checks, four drivers out of six cars gave breath alcohol readings in excess of .05.

The police officers were subjected to verbal abuse from passing vehicles, with the brazen driver of one ute yelling out his window, ‘‘You filthy copper dogs’’.

Operation manager Sgt Allan Jane said he was not surprised by the comments of the driver.

‘‘Police anticipate that a marginal number of the community will always respond in this manner, but it is disappointing nevertheless that well-intentioned police are treated this way,’’ he said.

The booze bus was not only used for targeting drink driving, but also as a way of monitoring cars for possible property-related crime contents.

As a result of the operation, 615 drivers were breath tested, with 81 people testing positive to an excess of .05.

One driver was arrested with a blood alcohol reading of .204, another was arrested for disorderly conduct, and a P-plate driver was caught drink driving.

At the time of going to press, over the first seven days of the operation, 1307 vehicle stops had been conducted, with 58 cars searched, 49 summonses issued and 28 arrests.

With the objective of reducing property crime, Sgt Jane considers Operation Rafborough to so far have been a success.

‘‘There has been a significant drop in burglary and property crime over the past week,’’ he said.

The second week of Operation Rafborough will see more booze buses set up in the Rockingham area.