Stone Age offenders

By MELISSA MEEHAN
CASEY police will step up patrols around overpasses and bridges along the Monash Freeway after a spate of rock throwing incidents.
Casey Inspector Wayne Viney said there had been a number of incidents in recent weeks and while vehicles had been damaged, it was lucky no-one had been fatally injured.
“This kind of activity is normally carried out by teenagers thinking it’s fun and a bit of a laugh,” Insp Viney said.
“But at the end of the day dropping rocks from a bridge or overpass at vehicles travelling around 100 kilometres per hour is dangerous.
“We’ve seen it before, it can cause significant injury or be fatal.”
Insp Viney said if someone was killed in a rock throwing incident the person who threw the rock could be charged with serious offences and could face a lengthy jail term.
“There were a couple of incidences last week so we will be patrolling any overpasses and bridges to identify anyone or deter others from taking part in this behaviour,” he said.
Police are seeking assistance from members of the public in relation to a number of incidents.
A vehicle sustained a shattered windscreen while travelling under the pedestrian footbridge between Belgrave Hallam Road and the South Gippsland Highway on the Monash Freeway not long before 3am on Thursday 23 August. It is believed unknown people threw a rock or similar item at the car from the pedestrian bridge.
Two similar incidents occurred at the Prospect Hill road footbridge in Narre Warren on 22 August. Again those that threw the rocks were not seen by the victim.
Last month a female victim was driving her Nissan Navara on Frankston Cranbourne Road. While stationary at the intersection of Hall Road, two rocks were thrown at her windscreen, causing it to crack. It is believed that the person throwing the rocks were hidden in nearby bushes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.