Tuggeranong's police have been more successful at apprehending vehicle arsonists than their colleagues across the rest of the ACT.
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There have been more vehicle arson charges laid in Tuggeranong than in every other Canberra region combined in the past two financial years.
Between June 1, 2011, and June 30, 2013, 11 apprehensions were made in the Tuggeranong patrol zone from 66 vehicle arson-related incidents.
Only two charges were laid in Belconnen (42 incidents), one in Gungahlin (20), one in the inner north (21) and none in the Woden patrol zone (53).
The Chronicle reported in November the difficulties police were having in laying charges over vehicle arson incidents after Gordon resident Kerrie Falconer’s son’s car was torched.
The Falconers provided police with CCTV footage of the suspected offenders but police were unable to lay charges.
In comparison, throughout the previous two financial years (July, 2011 to July, 2013) 119 vehicle arson offences were reported to ACT Policing across the ACT.
ACT Policing was unable to comment on the disparity between the Tuggeranong patrol zone and other zones throughout Canberra.
However, a spokeswoman said vehicle fires were difficult to investigate because of the need for evidence to prove an alleged offender committed a crime beyond reasonable doubt.
“Vehicle fires are difficult to investigate as a lot of the potential forensic evidence is lost due to the fire. In these instances, police rely heavily on any leads we may have – this could be information provided by the person reporting the incident or information from the public,” she said.
“In any investigation, police must be able to provide evidence to support a charge which is beyond reasonable doubt. This means that while circumstantial evidence may indicate a suspect in a matter, it may not be enough to charge the suspect with an offence.”
Despite these challenges, the number of charges made in Tuggeranong was distinctly higher than in other areas.
Comparing the number of incidents with the number of charges, about one in six vehicle arson-related offences – about 17 per cent – would have resulted in an apprehension.
Whereas in Belconnen, the patrol zone with the second-highest number of charges laid, the figure is closer to one in 21, about 4.8 per cent.
Similarly, inner north patrol zone charges compared to incidents was also one in 21, while Gungahlin had one charge compared to the 20 incidents reported, about 5per cent.
In the Woden patrol zone, which encompasses Weston Creek and South Canberra, no vehicle arson-related charges were laid between June 2011 and June 2013, however, 53 incidents were reported.
