Robbery victims may pay the price for lying

VICTORIA Police is considering whether to pin the costs of a robbery investigation on two victims after discovering that they had falsified part of their report.
Police said that at 6.15pm on 23 April two men met up with another two men who were selling audio and visual equipment from the rear of a van behind their company in Elonera Road, Noble Park.
Police said an argument occurred between the two parties and the two visiting men stole equipment from the sellers before fleeing the scene.
Police said the sellers subsequently went to Springvale Police Station and reported that the goods had been stolen from them at knife point.
Frankston’s Embona Taskforce, which responds to armed robberies, launched an investigation into the incident.
On 24 April Embona detectives arrested the two men alleged to have stolen the goods and questioned them.
But police also interviewed the two merchants and this week said it was likely they would be charged on summons for making a false report to police.
The two men alleged to have stolen the goods – a 25-year-old Hallam man and 25-year-old Eumemmerring man – have been charged with robbery and have been bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 3 September.
Frankston Embona Taskforce Detective Senior Constable Stuart Freeman said police would make an application to the court to recover investigation costs from the victims who gave false reports.
“The two male sales representatives have each been interviewed by Embona Taskforce detectives and are expected to be charged on summons with making a false report to police,” he said.
“Police will make application at court for restitution for the costs of the investigation, expected to run into the thousands of dollars.”
– Shaun Inguanzo