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Thief gambles away $64k raised for alleged murder victim's family

<p>A gambling addict has been sentenced to 400 hours unpaid community service after admitting to stealing $64,000 from a GoFundMe page intended for a grieving family. </p> <p>Lachlan Morganti, 26, was sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a single charge of theft, as magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz sentenced him to a two-year community corrections order and 400 hours of unpaid work.</p> <p>The court was told that Morganti set up the fundraising page on behalf of the family of allegedly murdered woman Hannah McGuire, who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-were-our-whole-damn-sky-tributes-flow-after-alleged-murder-of-young-teacher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> on April 5th this year.</p> <p>He had become acquainted with the family, who managed The National Hotel in Clunes, through their support of the Clunes Cricket Club where he played. </p> <p>“Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold,” the fundraiser read.</p> <p>“All proceeds will go towards funeral costs and other expenses the family may need during this tough time.”</p> <p>In just a few days, the GoFundMe page raised more than $64,000 in generous donations from the community. </p> <p>The funds dropped in Morganti’s bank account on April 24th, but he almost immediately began to gamble with it, losing the full amount in four to five days.</p> <p>After his arrest, Morganti told police he had an “uncontrollable” gambling addiction and internally justified it by believing he would only use a small portion to fix his mounting gambling debts.</p> <p>“I accept the act of creating the GoFundMe was meant as an altruistic act, that it was intended as a selfless act to benefit the grieving McGuire family,” Ms Mykytowycz said. </p> <p>“However, the temptation to use this money to recover previous debts became overwhelming and self-indulgent.”</p> <p>In a statement to the court, Hannah's mother Debbie McGuire said it was important to note no one from their family had asked for support or for Morganti to start the GoFundMe, adding that Morganti had the “audacity” to attend Hannah’s funeral among many of those whose contributions he had stolen.</p> <p>“Not only did the accused violate our trust, but he had a complete disregard of the trust and generosity of an entire community,” she said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe / news.com.au</em></p>

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Heartless theft from "Garden of Little Angels"

<p>In a despicable act of heartlessness, dozens of bronze plaques dedicated to children have been stolen from a memorial park in Melbourne's southwest. The theft not only deprives grieving families of precious mementos but also desecrates a sacred space meant to honour the memory of lost loved ones.</p> <p>Victoria police were alerted to the crime when it was discovered that 75 plaques had been taken from Altona Memorial Park on Doherty’s Road. These plaques, erected in the "Garden of Little Angels", were loving tributes from families who had lost children, serving as symbols of remembrance and healing for those who visit the park.</p> <p>The theft, which occurred sometime between March 12 and 13, has left the community shocked and appalled. It is a violation not only of property but of the sanctity of a space meant for solace and reflection. The perpetrators have callously disregarded the pain of grieving families and the significance of the memorial to the community.</p> <p>In response to this reprehensible act, detectives have issued a warning to scrap metal dealers in the area to remain vigilant against any attempts to sell the stolen plaques. These plaques, though they may hold some monetary value as scrap metal, are priceless to the families who placed them in the memorial park, with their sentimental worth far outweighing any material gain.</p> <p>The police are actively investigating the theft and are urging anyone with information to come forward. The return of the stolen plaques to their rightful place is paramount in restoring a sense of peace and closure to the families affected by this crime.</p> <p><em>Images: Altona Memorial Park</em></p>

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Thief returns stolen truck with note of apology – and gifts!

<p>In the bustling world of Auckland cafés, where flat whites and smashed avocados reign supreme, one café owner recently found himself entangled in a plot that could rival a sitcom script.</p> <p>Varun Chada, the proud owner of Kati Street, had his beloved 4WD truck snatched right out from under his nose, leaving him in a state of disbelief that could only be rivalled by a magician's audience.</p> <p>Picture this: a sunny afternoon, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air, and Chada minding his own business when, suddenly, his trusty truck disappeared faster than a piece of cake at a weight loss support group meeting. The audacity! The cheek! Someone had the gall to pull off a vehicular heist right outside his beloved eatery.</p> <p>But it gets better.</p> <p>Four days later, as if the universe had decided to play a cosmic prank on poor Varun, the stolen truck made a triumphant return. Parked in the exact same spot, as if it had never embarked on a wild joyride. It was like the vehicular version of Houdini's vanishing act, only with less smoke and mirrors and more caffeinated confusion.</p> <p>To add a sprinkle of absurdity to the mix, the returned truck came with a heartfelt, handwritten letter of apology. Now, we applaud any criminal with the decency to apologise, but it seems this particular ne'er-do-well could use a grammar lesson or two. The apology note featured the word "sorry", albeit with a creative twist on spelling that would make any English teacher cringe.</p> <p>“I couldn’t believe it,” Chada <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/watch-cafe-owners-stolen-truck-returned-with-sorry-note/VTWKKMRGR5AOTNIQGJNKBP6H7E/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The NZ Herald</a>. "The first time I thought I was losing my mind because I’d just walked inside, and the second time I rocked up, and it was parked there."</p> <p>As it turns out, the thief, in an attempt to excuse their vehicular misdeed, claimed to be a bit 'drunk' and in desperate need of a ride home. Because, you know, grand theft auto is a completely acceptable solution to a night out with one too many beers.</p> <p>"It was exactly where I’d parked it," Chada explained, "and I walked up to the window and there was a note inside it saying ‘hey mate sorry but I borrowed your car, was a bit drunk’ and none of us could believe it." </p> <p>But here's the twist that turns this tale into a comedy goldmine – the thief not only returned the truck unscathed but also left some new toys in the back for Chada's young son! It's like they momentarily transformed from a rogue car bandit to the world's most peculiar Santa Claus.</p> <p>Despite the surreal nature of the ordeal, Chada seems to be taking it all in stride. “I’m not condoning what they did is fine, but I mean, they gave it back and they said sorry, so, I don’t know, I’m just stoked to get it back, put it that way.”</p> <p>The saga has become the talk of the town, with Chada's Facebook and community pages buzzing with activity. Social media, the modern-day town square, has played a pivotal role in the unfolding drama, with hundreds of likes, shares and comments turning the café owner into an unintentional social media influencer.</p> <p>As for the truck, it's currently parked at Chada's house, awaiting the forensic scrutiny of the police. The investigation continues, but in the meantime, Aucklanders are left scratching their heads, wondering if their next caffeine fix might come with a side of unexpected vehicular shenanigans.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

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"It's a sad world": Audacious act of thievery at cemetery

<p>A cemetery located in southwest Sydney has been targeted by callous thieves, after a number of families have reported missing portions of their loved ones' memorial plaques.</p> <p>The theft primarily involves the removal of bronze vases, which are situated below the surface within these memorial plaques. It is suspected that a group of individuals orchestrated the theft in order to sell the items as scrap metal.</p> <p>As families grapple with their grief, they now must now contend with the shock of discovering that the resting places of their beloved ones have been desecrated by vandals.</p> <p>Sydney resident Nicole Futcher shared her experience after visiting her grandmother's memorial site, only to find that the bronze vase placed there was among the recent targets of theft. She told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/cemetery-rocked-by-disgusting-act-from-opportunistic-thieves-023846896.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>: </p> <p>"I was in shock when I seen it was gone, then I seen many others around her missing as well. I thought maybe the cemetery was replacing them all."</p> <p>When Nicole spoke with ground staff to ask after the missing vases were, she was told she was not the only victim, and that they had ALL gone missing.</p> <p>"That was the last thing I would have thought had happened. It's a sad world."</p> <p>Adding insult to injury, the affected families have been offered hollow replacements – vases made from inferior, plastic materials – having already paid for the bronze vases that now lie in the hands of thieves.</p> <p>Forest Lawn Memorial Park, for its part, acknowledges the grievousness of the situation and has alerted the authorities.</p> <p>Regrettably, this incident is not the first instance of a cemetery being targeted by thieves with personal gain in mind. In 2019, a distressing event occurred in Queensland, where a cemetery north of Brisbane fell victim to the theft of more than 50 brass plates.</p> <p>The Caboolture and Districts Lawn Cemetery saw the removal of 52 brass plates and damage to six headstones in March of that year. The estimated value of the stolen plates from the headstones amounted to approximately $26,000.</p> <p>The news of this theft garnered strong reactions on social media, with many residents expressing their outrage. A sentiment of condemnation prevailed, as one woman stated, “What a despicable act and heartless thieves,” underscoring her personal connection to the matter due to her grandmother's burial in the same cemetery.</p> <p>“Some people just have no respect for anything anymore,” commented another, while a third wrote: “Total disrespect – how do they sleep at night?”</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / Queensland Police</em></p>

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Inspiration, influence and theft: what the Ed Sheeran case can tell us about 70 years of pop music

<p>a US court <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/04/ed-sheeran-verdict-not-liable-copyright-lawsuit-marvin-gaye">ruled in favour of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran</a>, agreeing his song <em>Thinking Out Loud</em> did not breach musical copyright. </p> <p>The high-profile court case, brought by the estate of soul singer Marvin Gaye, claimed Sheeran’s song was too similar to Gaye’s song <em>Let’s Get It On</em>.</p> <p>On the stand, Sheeran <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/28/ed-sheeran-sings-in-court-as-part-of-marvin-gaye-copyright-case">defended his songwriting process</a>, stating: “I draw inspiration from a lot from things in my life and family.”</p> <p>Sheeran’s case brought up some difficult questions around what we understand as inspiration and influence, and what we may hear as theft.</p> <p>Musical copyright cases are part of songwriting history. Radiohead’s <em>Creep</em> was found to be <a href="https://entertainment.time.com/2013/08/22/11-suspiciously-sound-alike-songs/slide/the-hollies-the-air-that-i-breathe-1974-vs-radiohead-creep-1992/">too similar</a> to the Hollies’ <em>The Air That I Breathe</em>, and in 2018, Lana Del Rey’s <em>Get Free</em> <a href="https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/lana-del-rey-claims-lawsuit-with-radiohead-is-over-watch-1202736177/">was found to plagiarise Creep</a>. </p> <p>Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars altered the credits to <em>Uptown Funk</em> to <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lawsuit-bmg-uptown-funk-royalties-gap-band-heirs-1234660379/">acknowledge the similarity</a> to The Gap Band’s <em>Oops Upside Your Head</em>. </p> <p>Here in Australia, the flute solo in Men at Work’s <em>Down Under</em>, which quoted the melody of folk song <em>Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree</em>, was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/06/men-at-work-down-under">ruled as plagiarism</a>.</p> <p>In this case against Sheeran, the song’s chord progression was at the heart of the claim. The prosecution argued Sheeran’s chord progression was too similar to the chord progression of Gaye’s.</p> <p>But can we copyright a chord progression if it is used extensively in other pop songs? </p> <p>Gaye’s song uses four chords that gradually move upward (I-iii-IV-V). These same chords can be heard in the Beach Boys’ <em>I Can Hear Music</em>, the Seekers’ <em>Georgy Girl</em>, the Beatles’ <em>I Feel Fine</em>, in the Motown tune <em>This Old Heart of Mine</em> by the Isley Brothers, Elvis Presley’s <em>Suspicious Minds</em>, Cher’s <em>Believe</em> and ABBA’s <em>Knowing Me Knowing You</em>, among many others. </p> <p>This chord progression and many others are part of the songwriting toolkit of rock and pop and have been heard continuously over the past 70 years. </p> <h2>The 12 bar blues</h2> <p>A chord progression is the main instrumental part you hear in most pop music, usually played by a guitar, piano or synth. </p> <p>One of the oldest chord progressions in pop is the 12-bar blues – a looping pattern of three chords that is very identifiable. </p> <p>As the name suggests, this set of chords stems from early blues and was a way for musicians to easily play together and improvise. A version of this progression can be heard in Muddy Waters’ I<em>’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man</em> or John Lee Hooker’s <em>Boom Boom</em>. </p> <p>You can also hear this progression in a number of other pop songs – listen to verses of Queen’s <em>I Want to Break Free</em> and <em>Kiss</em> by Prince – both use the same chord progression, but sound very different to each other. </p> <p>More recently, Lizzo’s <em>Better in Colour</em> uses the 12-bar blues in a way that makes an old formula fresh.</p> <h2>The ‘doo-wop’ progression</h2> <p>The “doo-wop” progression has appeared in pop music for close to 80 years, and is named because most doo-wop songs feature this chord progression – it was an essential part of its sound. </p> <p>You can hear it in 1950s hits such as the Penguins’ <em>Earth Angel</em> and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers’ <em>Why Do Fools Fall in Love?</em>.</p> <p>The strength of these chords means they are used in pop music of all kinds, including ELO’s <em>Telephone Line</em>, <em>Don’t Dream it’s Over</em> by Crowded House, Destiny’s Child’s <em>Say My Name</em>, <em>Blank Space</em> by Taylor Swift, and <em>Flowers</em> by Miley Cyrus. </p> <p>Despite its consistent use, these chords still cross genres and eras, and still catch our ears. </p> <p>Comedy act Axis of Awesome use a similar progression in their video for 4 Chords, where they cleverly play almost 50 different songs with a variation on these four simple chords.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oOlDewpCfZQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <h2>The I-IV-V (the ‘one, four, five’)</h2> <p>Perhaps the most common chord progressions in rock and pop are those that use the I, IV and V chords in various combinations.</p> <p>They’re usually the first three chords you learn on an instrument and open up thousands of songs to play – from the rock and roll of <em>Summertime Blues</em> by Eddie Cochran, the garage rock of <em>Wild Thing</em> by the Troggs, the bubblegum of Hanson’s <em>Mmmbop</em> and the indie rock of Coldplay’s <em>Yellow</em>, to the modern pop of <em>bad guy</em> by Billie Eilish and <em>good 4 u</em> by Olivia Rodrigo.</p> <h2>Going forward</h2> <p>Rock, pop, blues, doo wop and other musical genres can often be defined by their use of repeated chord progressions. These chord progressions are part of a songwriter’s toolkit in a similar way to how an artist may use different paint brushes. </p> <p>As Sheeran’s lawyer Ilene Farkas <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/04/ed-sheeran-verdict-not-liable-copyright-lawsuit-marvin-gaye">noted</a>, chord progressions are, "the letters of the alphabet of music […] these are basic musical building blocks that songwriters now and forever must be free to use."</p> <p>It is how these “building blocks” are used, and in what combinations, that gives us a great variety of pop songs over many decades. The true craft of great pop music is to take these formulas and turn them into something unique (while simultaneously making it sound easy).</p> <p>The ruling in Sheeran’s case supports the rights of musical artists to continue to use these progressions as part of a songwriter’s toolkit, and to build from the artists who came before them. It also acknowledges that influence and inspiration from previous works are part of the construction of the pop music we love.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/inspiration-influence-and-theft-what-the-ed-sheeran-case-can-tell-us-about-70-years-of-pop-music-204747" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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Nick Kyrgios opens up about alleged Tesla theft

<p>Nick Kyrgios has revealed how he has been impacted by the suspected theft of his Tesla after a man allegedly forced his mother to hand over the keys at gunpoint.</p> <p>The Aussie tennis star worked with police to track the bright green car after it was allegedly stolen on May 1.</p> <p>ACT Police said a 32-year-old Canberra man <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/nick-kyrgios-mother-held-at-gunpoint-during-alleged-car-theft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened Kyrgios’ mother</a> Noralia with a gun and demanded she hand over the keys to her son’s $191,000 Tesla.</p> <p>Mr Kygrios is said to have tracked his car via the Tesla app where he was able to impose a speed limit, allowing police to locate and follow the vehicle.</p> <p>The tennis great broke his silence on Instagram about the ordeal.</p> <p>“Last couple days has been rough...haven’t slept much and battling a little,” he said.</p> <p>“Appreciative of all the support.”</p> <p>ACT police raided a property in Canberra’s south on May 2 as a part of their investigation.</p> <p>They found a shotgun that was thought to be the firearm used in the robbery as well as two others, a pistol and a .177 air rifle.</p> <p>Police also seized a rented BMW that was overdue for return, commercial-grade fireworks and “substances suspected of being illicit drugs”.</p> <p>Court documents viewed by NCA <em>NewsWire </em>revealed more details about the incident.</p> <p>Ms Kyrgios told police interviewers she was worried that the man would return and “blow a hole in the door”.</p> <p>The man faced the ACT Magistrates Court on May 2 and was charged with aggravated robbery, failing to stop a motor vehicle for police, driving while suspended, driving a motor vehicle without consent and obstructing/resisting public officials.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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Nick Kyrgios' mother held at gunpoint during alleged car theft

<p dir="ltr">Nick Kyrgios' mother, Norlaila Kyrgios, has allegedly been held at gunpoint by a man who then stole the tennis star’s bright green Tesla in Canberra.</p> <p dir="ltr">The tennis star, his manager, Daniel Horsfall, and Ms Kyrgios were all at home when she heard a knock at the door.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement to the ACT Police, Ms Kyrgios said that she unlocked and partially opened the front door before she saw a long-barrel gun pointed at her.</p> <p dir="ltr">A man wearing all-black clothing and a face mask, demanded she hand over the keys to her son’s luxurious car and asked her to show him how to drive it, but she didn’t know how to since it wasn’t her vehicle.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man then got into the car, and Ms Kyrgios used this as an opportunity to “run back inside and scream for help”, before Kyrgios called triple zero.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to police after the incident, Ms Kyrgios was "visibly shaken and frightened" and told them that "she was so fearful that he was going to return to the house and 'blow a hole in the door'".</p> <p dir="ltr">Kyrgios was allegedly able to track his car and impose a speed limit remotely via an app, which allowed police to follow it.</p> <p dir="ltr">After about 15 minutes police had managed to track the vehicle down to a street in the suburb of Watson.</p> <p dir="ltr">They then "approached the Tesla, drew their issued firearm and aimed it towards the defendant” who then sped away, and led them to engage in a “short pursuit”, police revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pursuit eventually ended when police sealed off a street in Ainslie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police said that the alleged car thief initially refused to get out but was arrested shortly after.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 32-year-old faced the ACT Magistrates Court where he was charged with aggravated robbery, driving a stolen motor vehicle, driving while suspended, and failing to stop for police.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was denied bail.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

News

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Funeral director accused of stealing from dead woman

<p dir="ltr">An 82-year-old woman, Teresa had to sadly lay her 56-year-old daughter Helen Moratias to rest after her untimely death.</p> <p dir="ltr">A devastated Teresa sensed something was off when she said the funeral director refused to open the casket at the church. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I was screaming and crying," Moraitis told A Current Affair.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I wanted to see my daughter and all my relatives wanted to see, to say goodbye.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After months of emotional torture, Teresa made the decision to exhume her daughter's remains from the above ground mausoleum. </p> <p dir="ltr">A Current Affair’s cameras were invited onto the scene, to bring to light what Teresa claims is the dark side of Australia’s unregulated funeral industry.</p> <p dir="ltr">After travelling to the mortuary facility, embalmers opened the casket to find Teresa’s naked remains in a blue body bag with her arm up behind her head. </p> <p dir="ltr">Thousands of dollars of gold jewellery and clothing that were given to the funeral director, Peter Tziotzis, were also missing. </p> <p dir="ltr">Despite paying for her daughter to be embalmed and plans for an open casket funeral, no preparation had been done on the corpse, according to mortuary staff who examined the remains.</p> <p dir="ltr">Teresa claimed on the day of the funeral, her family was told the casket had to be sealed shut as it was the coroner’s order.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family said the coroner later confirmed that no such order ever came about.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I feel betrayed," Teresa said. </p> <p dir="ltr">After Helen’s body was exhumed, detectives arrested Tziotzis, while allegedly finding the missing jewellery and clothes at the funeral parlour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tziotzis released a statement, saying, “I wish to state in the clearest terms that A Current Affair’s version of events is incorrect and without factual basis. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I did not steal any jewellery or clothing, I did not fail to prepare Ms Moraitis’ daughter’s body for the funeral and burial and I was not dishonest in any way in my dealings with Ms Moraitis. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I also have not been charged with any criminal offence by Victoria Police.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Tziotzis still denies all claims.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: A Current Affair</em></p>

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“Some lowlife took our home”: Retirees wake to devastating theft

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Retirees Sue and Tony Hill have been living out of a campervan and driving it on the Big Lap around Australia. They returned home to North Adelaide recently to stop in and visit family when disaster struck. </span></p> <p>Their home was stolen right from under their noses.</p> <p>"I came out Monday morning around 7.30 ish and it was gone,” Sue Hill told <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/couple-move-life-into-campervan-and-have-everything-stolen/ac17b057-a51d-4b04-b366-9c63307b2984" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NineNews</a>. "Some lowlife took our home ... Our life has just been ripped out from under us.”</p> <p>The grey nomad couple, who had spent their retirement savings to buy the camper trailer for their Big Lap around the country, were absolutely distraught – but now an incredible act of charity has given them new hope, and a brand new trailer to call home.</p> <p>"We'd given up hope that we'd ever get back on the road again, which is what we love doing. We'd given up hope that we'd ever get our camper trailer back," Mrs Hill said.</p> <p>But then the owner of local business Eagle Camper Trailers – Brent – heard about the plight of the Hills and just had to act. </p> <p>"I heard it, I watched it and I thought 'I can't believe this'," Brent told NineNews.</p> <p>"The fact that someone had taken their home, I needed to try and do something to sort it out."</p> <p>The Hills also turned to social media to try and track down the stolen trailer or the thieves, with no luck.</p> <p>"I've been on the truckie pages trying to get the truckies of Australia to help," Sue and Tony's daughter Janene Harper said.</p> <p>"Through COVID and the rental crisis, they lived homeless for more than 12 months," she said, on the family’s Facebook fundraiser page.</p> <p>"They decided to invest every last dollar they had to purchase a portable home, something they could call home. They were required to sell most of their belongings to be able to move in."</p> <p>The Hills are now incredibly thankful to Brent at Eagle Camper Trailers for his generosity, and for helping to put them back on their feet and into a new home.</p> <p><em>Images: NineNews</em></p>

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"You can’t ever get them back": Granddaughter’s plea for stolen ashes

<p>Grieving teenager Jakoda Williams-Boyce has pleaded with thieves for the return of her grandmother’s ashes.</p> <p>The theft occurred when the 19-year-old from Adelaide left her nana’s remains in the boot of her grey Mitsubishi Lancer after parking it on Amadeus Crescent in Christie Downs. The car was stolen at some point between Thursday evening and Friday morning with the urn still inside.</p> <p>Jakoda had been living with her grandmother, Sharon, when she passed away at the age of 64. The family had been in possession of Sharon’s remains ever since, until they came under Jakoda’s care four weeks ago.</p> <p>In images shared with 9News, Jakoda can be seen cradling the precious urn, and smiling in an old photograph with her nana alongside the caption “10 months today. I love you my angel.”</p> <p>“I will say, it is my own fault for putting that personal item there, but I didn’t think twice. I shouldn’t have to worry about people on the street,” the teenager admitted, speaking to 9News.</p> <p>It remains unclear how thieves got their hands on the car, as the keys and the car’s battery remain with Jakoda, though glass was reportedly scattered across the scene.</p> <p>Police have so far been unable to locate the vehicle, but their search continues, with Jakoda issuing an emotional plea to the thieves for the safe return of her nana, confessing that it feels like losing her beloved grandmother for a second time.</p> <p>“Me, personally, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing that I’ve stolen the car with someone’s cremations in the backseat,” she said, “you can’t ever get them back.”</p> <p>Jakoda’s interests lie solely in getting the ashes back, with the distraught teenager telling reporters, “I would ask the question of ‘why’, but I wouldn’t go any further.</p> <p>“Hopefully, when I do get them back, I want to take them to the funeral director and put them into, like, the ground. So I can't lose them."</p> <p><em>Image: 9News</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Australian Olympic champion convicted of theft

<p>Australian Olympic champion and former diver Chantelle Newbery has been convicted of theft for stealing groceries from Woolworths.</p> <p>Newbery, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was caught walking out with $383 worth of unpaid groceries in Towoomba, Queensland, last July.</p> <p>She later told the police that she had no food or money to pay for it, according to the <a href="https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/toowoomba/chantelle-lee-newberys-dive-into-drug-use-ends-in-stealing-groceries-and-a-jail-term/news-story/50c6008c1d67130b170904c028bf9318" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toowoomba Chronicle</a>.</p> <p>Newbery, now 45, has also pleaded guilty to driving on a suspended licence, on December 5, but was released on immediate parole after being jailed for eight months.</p> <p>The reason why she wasn't jailed, according to Magistrate Kay Phillipson, was because at that time she was caring for her 18-month-old niece.</p> <p>The Magistrate told her, “you really need to turn things around".</p> <p>Newbery's solicitor Alysha Jacobsen told the court that the former diver had turned to drugs following her divorce from Robert Newbery.</p> <p>After the divorce, she also faced the death of her new partner and her mother.</p> <p>In 2014, she told Channel 9's <em>A Current Affair </em>that she resorted to drugs after her mother’s death.</p> <p>She also said that she had been suffering from chronic depression and had tried to commit suicide multiple times.</p> <p>“There have been times in the past few weeks especially around the time of the court case I knew I was slipping into a place where I was a little bit worried and I did actually go to a GP and get another referral to get help again,” she said.</p> <p>In 2021, she was caught with an ice pipe after being stopped for shoplifting from Woolworths and Target, to which she pleaded guilty for stealing and possessing drug utensils.</p> <p>Newbery was the first Australian Olympic diver to win gold in over 80 years at the 2004 Olympics.</p> <p>She received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2005.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <hr /> <p><strong><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, you can call these support services, 24 hours, 7 days:</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Lifeline: 13 11 14</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 (for people aged 5 to 25)</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>StandBy - Support After Suicide: 1300 727 24</em></strong></p>

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“Such lowlifes”: Alleged thieves steal charity donation tin

<p dir="ltr">Two people are wanted by police over the theft of a charity donation bin captured on CCTV.</p> <p dir="ltr">The footage shows a man and woman standing next to each other inside the Gold Coast’s Club Helensvale on Friday, November 25, when he allegedly steals the tin for a charity aimed at preventing youth violence.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the video, released by police in an appeal to find the pair, the man is seen subtly and slowly placing it in a bag slung across his shoulder.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police are urging the man and woman to come forward.</p> <p dir="ltr">The tin that was allegedly stolen was collecting donations for the Jack Beasley Foundation, set up after 17-year-old Jack Beasley died from being stabbed in the heart on the Gold Coast.</p> <p dir="ltr">The charity has also shared an image of the suspected thieves on social media in a bid to identify them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hey guys if anyone recognises these two please contact the QPS or send us a message. They stole Jacko’s Donation box from the bar at Club Helensvale on Friday night. Thanks 🙏,” the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JackBeasleyFoundation/posts/pfbid0fgzrLvGVinZfzjqEweJfTqr3RbMKvnT4qHjDcKvUW5Xw1KascA7AiAmDqToEnbqsl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Followers were quick to share their anger in the comments, with some providing information about where they had seen the man before.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Such lowlifes maybe they should get a job instead of stealing from charities,” one person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hope they get found, shame on them,” another said.</p> <p dir="ltr">One commenter even alleged that the man had committed similar acts before, stealing the “dog donation box” from the Boathouse Tavern in Coomera “the other day”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Stealing from charity is pitiful and devious! They may have taken dollars and cents, but they have no sense,” another said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab4e272a-7fff-e469-d984-7a5612774b3e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Queensland Police Service</em></p>

Legal

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Optus data breach: regulatory changes announced, but legislative reform still needed

<p>In response to Australia’s biggest ever data breach, the federal government will <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/changes-protect-consumers-following-optus-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily suspend regulations</a> that stop telcos sharing customer information with third parties.</p> <p>It’s a necessary step to deal with the threat of identify theft faced by 10 million current and former Optus customers. It will allow Optus to work with banks and government agencies to detect and prevent the fraudulent use of their data.</p> <p>But it’s still only a remedial measure, intended to be in place for 12 months. More substantive reform is needed to tighten Australia’s loose approach to data privacy and protection.</p> <h2>Changing regulations, not legislation</h2> <p>The changes – <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/changes-protect-consumers-following-optus-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland – involve amending the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022C00329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telecommunications Regulation 2021</a>.</p> <p>This a piece of “subordinate” or “<a href="https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/questions/whats-the-difference-between-a-legislative-act-and-a-regulation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delegated law</a>” to the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A05145" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telecommunications Act 1997</a>. Amending the act itself would require a vote of parliament. Regulations can be amended at the government’s discretion.</p> <p>Under the Telecommunications Act it is a criminal offence for telcos to share information about “the affairs or personal particulars of another person”.</p> <p>The only exceptions are sharing information with the <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Relay Service</a> (which enables those with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate by phone), to “authorised research entities” such as universities, public health agencies or electoral commissions, or to police and intelligence agencies <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/national-security/lawful-access-telecommunications/telecommunications-interception-and-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with a warrant</a>.</p> <p>That means Optus can’t tell banks or even government agencies set up to prevent identity fraud, such as the little-known <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/banks-treasury-team-up-to-protect-optus-customers-20220928-p5blm3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Financial Crime Exchange</a>, who the affected customers are.</p> <h2>Important safeguards</h2> <p>The government says the changes will only allow the sharing of “<a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/changes-protect-consumers-following-optus-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved government identifier information</a>” – driver’s licences, Medicare and passport numbers.</p> <p>This information can only be shared with government agencies or financial institutions <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/register-of-authorised-deposit-taking-institutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regulated by</a> the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority. This means Optus (or any other telco) won’t be able to share information with the Australian branches of foreign banks.</p> <p>Financial institutions will also have to meet strict requirements about secure methods for transferring and storing personal information shared with them, and make undertakings to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (<a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/section-87b-of-the-competition-consumer-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which can be enforced in court</a>).</p> <p>The information can be shared only “for the sole purposes of preventing or responding to cybersecurity incidents, fraud, scam activity or identify theft”. Any entity receiving information must destroy it after using it for this purpose.</p> <p>These are incredibly important safeguards given the current lack of limits on how long companies can keep identity data.</p> <h2>What is needed now</h2> <p>Although temporary, these changes could be a game changer. For the next 12 months, at least, Optus (and possibly other telcos) will be able to proactively share customer information with banks to prevent cybersecurity, fraud, scams and identity theft.</p> <p>It could potentially enable a crackdown on scams that affect both banks and telcos – such as <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Identity-security-and-scams/Scam-alerts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fraudulent texts and phone calls</a>.</p> <p>But this does not nullify the need for a larger legislative reform agenda.</p> <p>Australia’s data privacy laws and regulations should put limits on how much data companies can collect, or for how long they can keep that information. Without limits, companies will continue to collect and store much more personal information <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-do-tiktok-bunnings-ebay-and-netflix-have-in-common-theyre-all-hyper-collectors-187274" target="_blank" rel="noopener">than they need</a>.</p> <p>This will require amending the federal Privacy Act – subject to a <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/integrity/consultations/review-privacy-act-1988" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government review</a> now nearing three years in length. There should be limits on what data companies can retain, and how long, as well as bigger penalties for non-compliance.</p> <p>We all need to take data privacy more seriously.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/optus-data-breach-regulatory-changes-announced-but-legislative-reform-still-needed-192009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Legal

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5 times the Mona Lisa was threatened

<p dir="ltr">Since the <em>Mona Lisa</em> began hanging in the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1804, many have attempted to either vandalise or steal the priceless artwork. </p> <p dir="ltr">Leonardo da Vinci’s <em>Mona Lisa</em> is widely considered one of the most beloved artworks in the world, with millions of people each year flocking to see her elusive smile. </p> <p dir="ltr">This level of fame has left the <em>Mona Lisa</em> vulnerable to threats of vandalism and theft, with five notable attempts leaving the artwork subject to much higher security. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1911: The <em>Mona Lisa</em> is stolen</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In 1911, Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia and his two accomplices hid in a closet in the Louvre until the museum closed to steal the <em>Mona Lisa</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The artwork, which was considered a minor work by da Vinci at the time, was taken by the men and stashed in the floorboards beneath Peruggia’s Paris apartment. </p> <p dir="ltr">Two years after the theft, Peruggia attempted to sell the work to a dealer in Florence, Italy, who inevitably called the police on the thief. </p> <p dir="ltr">Peruggia spent six months in prison and the painting was returned to the Louvre. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1956: A rock is thrown at the <em>Mona Lisa</em></strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In the year of 1956, the <em>Mona Lisa</em> was vandalised twice by two different assailants. </p> <p dir="ltr">First, the vandal attempted to take a razor blade to the painting, though no damage ended up being inflicted. </p> <p dir="ltr">Then, a Bolivian man named Hugo Unjaga Villegas tossed a rock at the painting. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I had a stone in my pocket and suddenly the idea to throw it came to mind,” he said at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, the painting was already behind glass, meaning the rock did no permanent damage. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1974: The <em>Mona Lisa</em> is nearly damaged while on tour in Tokyo</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">When da Vinci’s masterpiece was on display for a limited time at the National Museum in Tokyo, 1.15 million people came to see the painting. </p> <p dir="ltr">One of those people was Tomoko Yonezu, a 25-year-old Japanese woman who tried to spray paint the canvas in red on its first day on view.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the days before the opening, the presentation had been the subject of discussion among disability activists, who claimed that in refusing access to those who needed assistance in the name of crowd control, the National Museum was discriminating against the disabled. </p> <p dir="ltr">In an act of defiance, Yonezu managed to spray between 20 and 30 droplets of paint on the artwork, which was able to be restored. </p> <p dir="ltr">Yonezu was convicted of a misdemeanour and made to pay a fine of 3,000 yen, as the National Museum set aside a day when the disabled could exclusively visit the <em>Mona Lisa</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2009: The <em>Mona Lisa </em>is hit with a teacup</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">On an otherwise ordinary day at the Louvre, a Russian woman came to the gallery in 2009 and smashed a teacup against the iconic artwork. </p> <p dir="ltr">She had come to the museum with the cup concealed in her bag, with representatives at Louvre claiming she had let loose because she had been denied French citizenship. </p> <p dir="ltr">Thanks once again to her glass case, the <em>Mona Lisa</em> was not damaged. </p> <p dir="ltr">Still, some took the attempted vandalism as proof that greater security was needed, as the Louvre eventually upgraded the glass on the <em>Mona Lisa</em> in 2019. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2022: The <em>Mona Lisa </em>gets caked</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In May 2022, the painting was targeted by climate change activists who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/mona-lisa-gets-caked-in-climate-activist-stunt">smeared cake</a> on the protective glass of the artwork. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 36-year-old man who staged the vandalism had arrived at the museum in a wheelchair dressed as a woman, as some caught the aftermath of the event on video and posted it to social media. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There are people who are destroying the Earth,” the man said in one video, speaking in French. “All artists, think about the Earth. That’s why I did this. Think of the planet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The man was immediately detained, and the Louvre has filed a criminal complaint, with the <em>Mona Lisa</em> once again remaining intact. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Art

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Daylight robbery: Men arrested for nicking a bridge

<p dir="ltr">Eight men have been arrested in the Indian state of Bihar for stealing an iron bridge in broad daylight.</p> <p dir="ltr">When several men arrived in the village of Amiyavar with an excavator and gas torches, locals believed the government was finally removing an old metal bridge that had become more of a nuisance than useful.</p> <p dir="ltr">The men, including some from the state government’s irrigation department, arrived at 7am and worked until dusk for three days. They cut the iron with gas torches and loosened the ground with excavators before taking the metal away in a rented van.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, a local journalist told the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61066473" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em> that no one knew the men were actually stealing the metal, before depositing it at the warehouse of a local scrap dealer for a profit.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-32b2bcb9-7fff-ed56-770b-ab3f202e8b92"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“No-one suspected it was a heist,” Jitendra Singh, a journalist who lives “200 metres from the bridge”, told the outlet.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Unique theft in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bihar</a>, thieves became officers of the irrigation department and stole a 60 feet long iron bridge</p> <p>In Nasriganj, Rohtas, thieves posing as officers, with the help of local personnel, 1/2<a href="https://twitter.com/UtkarshSingh_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UtkarshSingh_</a> 📽️ <a href="https://t.co/jhnTbUSYDw">pic.twitter.com/jhnTbUSYDw</a></p> <p>— Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) <a href="https://twitter.com/sirajnoorani/status/1512521001719894017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The operation was reportedly supervised by Arvind Kumar, who worked part-time at the irrigation department. He allegedly told anyone who asked that “the work had an official sanction”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ashish Bharti, the senior police official leading the investigation, said Mr Kumar was one of the men arrested.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Irrigation department official Radhe Shyam Singh, the van owner and the owner of the scrapyard are also among those arrested. We are looking for at least four more people,” Mr Bharti said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Even three days ago, the structure of the bridge was there but suddenly it disappeared and we informed local officials,” Amiyaway local Suresh Kumar told <em><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/thieves-make-away-with-500-tonne-iron-bridge-in-bihar/article65305774.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hindu</a>.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Pawan Kumar, who lives in a neighbouring village, made the discovery that the operation wasn’t legitimate after he tried contacting Mr Singh and couldn’t reach him.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c265fe8a-7fff-0d81-4d02-497620f9bfa8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I tried calling irrigation department official Radhe Shyam Singh, but when he didn’t answer, I called a senior official to ask why they had not followed procedure - the authorities are expected to issue a tender and the work is given to the lowest bidder,” Mr Kumar told the <em>BBC</em>.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The remnants of the 500 tonne bridge that was stolen in Rohtas, Bihar. Pic via <a href="https://twitter.com/AmarnathTewary?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmarnathTewary</a> <a href="https://t.co/AaB3Ohc41x">pic.twitter.com/AaB3Ohc41x</a></p> <p>— Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) <a href="https://twitter.com/nistula/status/1512713303797035011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The official told him he was unaware that the bridge had been taken down, prompting a complaint to be lodged with police.</p> <p dir="ltr">After conducting several raids, police have recovered 24.5 tonnes of iron scrap from the bridge, as well as the pick-up van and tools used to strip the bridge, per <em><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-bridge-theft-case-water-resources-dept-official-seven-others-arrested/article65310750.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hindu</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The bridge in question was in a serious state of disrepair and had been out of use since the early 2000s, when a concrete bridge was built nearby.</p> <p dir="ltr">Journalist Jitendra Singh said the head of the village had sent a petition to authorities to remove the bridge since it had become a health hazard. </p> <p dir="ltr">He said bodies of cattle and even people would get stuck under the bridge after floating from upstream.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Over the years, all the wood used in the bridge had disintegrated and the iron had rusted. Thieves had stolen bits and pieces of the metal to put it to other use or sell it as scrap for a few rupees,” Shailendra Singh, who lives in the village, told the <em>BBC</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But what happened last week was daylight robbery.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Metal is stolen in many parts of India, as well as the US, UK and parts of Europe. </p> <p dir="ltr">In India, manhole covers and water pipes are common targets, while signalling and power cables, overhead line equipment, and clips to hold train tracks in place in England have caused thousands of hours of delays each year.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

Legal

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Apple to update AirTags amid claims of stalking and theft

<p dir="ltr">Apple has announced it will add <a href="https://7news.com.au/technology/apple-plans-airtag-security-updates-to-curb-unwanted-tracking-c-5654390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more safeguards</a> to AirTags, a tracking device used to find keys and other personal items, amid reports of the devices being used to stalk people and steal cars.</p><p dir="ltr">The tech giant said in a <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/02/an-update-on-airtag-and-unwanted-tracking/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blog post</a> that it had worked with safety groups and law enforcement agencies to identify more ways of improving its AirTag safety warnings.</p><p dir="ltr">These new measures include alerting people sooner if the tracker is suspected to be tracking someone, as current notifications that the tracker has been separated from its owner can take hours.</p><p dir="ltr">Other updates will include adjusting the tone sequence of the tracker so it is louder and easier to find and allowing someone to see the distance and direction of an AirTag, which are expected to be introduced later this year.</p><p dir="ltr">Apple will also add warnings during the setup process, informing users that tracking people without their consent is a crime.</p><p dir="ltr">Stories of people realising they are being tracked using the Apple devices have increased in recent months, including the case where a Melbourne student was notified through her iPhone that someone had been tracking her for three hours while she was out with friends.</p><p dir="ltr">Her mother Sue, who spoke to <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a></em> on condition of anonymity, said her daughter had found the AirTag in her handbag before destroying it in a panic.</p><p dir="ltr">Other stories have emerged online of people, especially young women, discovering the devices hidden in their vehicles.</p><p dir="ltr">“We’ve become aware that individuals can receive unwanted tracking alerts for benign reasons, such as when borrowing someone’s keys with an AirTag attached, or when travelling in a car with a family member’s AirPods left inside,” Apple said in a statement.</p><p dir="ltr">“We also have seen reports of bad actors attempting to misuse AirTags for malicious or criminal purposes.</p><p dir="ltr">“We condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products,” the company said.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-96a6b3a5-7fff-6b68-d02a-e5cd8f38ca1e"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

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Heartbroken tradie's ute stolen with mother's ashes in glovebox

<p>A man from Queensland has been left heartbroken after his ute, with his mother’s ashes in the glove box was stolen.</p><p>Carpenter Kayden Holmes had left his key in the ignition of his white Holden Colorado as he loaded tools into the boot when a thief jumped in and sped off on Sunday.</p><p>The incident was captured on a neighbour’s security camera and the footage was shared on social media. The clip shows Mr Holmes’ attempt to stop the grab and dash before he was dragged along the road in Holmview, a residential suburb of Logan.</p><p>The tradie was left with an ankle injury after his foot was run over during the scuffle. He is now desperate for the return of his mother’s ashes, which had been placed inside a piece of jewellery following her death from cancer in 2015.</p><p>It’s unlikely the alleged thief knew the precious item was inside the glove box of the ute when it was taken.</p><p>“The car is replaceable, everything in that car is replaceable, but the ashes aren’t,” he told 7NEWS on Tuesday.</p><p>“I need them back, I don’t want them, I need them.”</p><p>Mr Holmes told Sunrise that he was now offering “a reward to anyone that comes forward with information leading to the name or the arrest, even just the ashes”.</p><p>“That’s just the last thing I have of mum and it takes a lot to make me upset, and we’ve gone through a lot of humps in this road, but this one has knocked me about a bit.”</p><p>Mr Holmes said he kept the ashes in his car as he liked to have his mother near him at all times.</p><p>“I just thought that having her in the car with me, she can come everywhere I go kind of thing, just to have that kind of reassurance.”</p><p>Queensland Police are investigating the incident and urge anyone with information to contact them.</p><p><em>Image: 7 News</em></p>

Legal

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Brazen cat-napper snatches feline from driveway

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A young woman has been caught on CCTV camera brazenly picking up a 22-year-old cat named “Bob” from its owners' driveway in Melbourne's east and simply walking off with it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A week since he went missing, Bob the cat's heartbroken owners are now pleading for their beloved pet to be returned.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their CCTV camera captured the woman walking past their home just after 9pm on Wednesday, December 1, before stopping to do something they never expected.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a few pats and a failed attempt to pick him up, the woman then managed to scoop the feline into her arms and walk away.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Giuseppina Roberts and her son Vincent Mennilli are worried.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"A very brave cat, a very friendly cat, but a cat that we deeply miss," Mr Mennilli said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I thought, ‘How dare somebody come into our property and take our pet?’" Ms Roberts said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846263/catnapper_ninenews.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/034845a809e44982ae00ff5f27f0317b" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pair have door-knocked the neighbourhood and posted the footage online.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They're searching for Bob, who is missing part of one paw and is blind in one eye.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm very worried, very worried, in fact I think he could already (be) gone," Ms Roberts said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has been reported to police but Ms Roberts says she just wants her pet returned.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"No questions asked, just bring the cat back … and that will be my greatest gift, it will be a Christmas present," she implored.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: 9News</span></p>

Family & Pets

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George Calombaris admits to “crying a lot" during wage theft scandal

<p dir="ltr">Former<span> </span><em>MasterChef<span> </span></em>judge and restaurateur George Calombaris has opened up about his wage theft scandal in 2019, admitting that he “cried a lot” as it unfolded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Talking to Sam Newman and Don Scott for their<span> </span><em>You Cannot Be Serious<span> </span></em>podcast, Calombaris said of the scandal, “It was brutal and I cried a lot.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2019, the Fair Work Ombudsman ordered his hospitality group, Made Establishment, to pay back $7.8 million to workers after failing to pay them penalty rates for several years. Calombaris was also personally penalised $200,000 for the underpayments. His decade-long stint as a judge on<span> </span><em>MasterChef<span> </span></em>was brought to an end that year, after contract negotiations between judges Calombaris, Matt Preston, and Gary Meighan, and Network Ten, broke down.</p> <p dir="ltr">Throughout the scandal, he maintained that it was a mistake caused by inexperience. In addition, as the scandal was unfolding, Calombaris was charged with assault after shoving a 19-year-old at the 2017 A-League grand final for heckling him about the controversy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Early last year, it was announced that Made Establishment had entered voluntary administration. Calombaris admitted on the podcast that he drank during this time, and was an “emotional wreck”. He said, “I drank a lot, I really did. When I drink, I don’t get aggressive, but when I drink excessively like I did in that period, I’m an emotional wreck.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I probably should have opened up more. I was trying to fix it all behind a closed door and I was literally fist-punching myself internally and emotionally.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2017, Made Establishment calculated that its current workforce had been underpaid $2.6 million and publicly disclosed the issue, immediately repaying 162 people and committing to working with Fair Work Australia to ensure the matter was finalised.</p> <p dir="ltr">It eventually came out that the problem was much worse than that, however, with the company being informed in 2019 that they had underpaid staff by $7.8 million, affecting 515 employees over a six-year period. Of the revelation, Calombaris said, “We went to Fair Work and said, ‘Guys we found these issues, we’re paying up, every cent, but we also want to give it to a journalist to talk the story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"Hopefully that will get everyone else in an industry that is rife with payments under tables and stuff like that, for everyone to pull their socks up. That turned. That became, ‘George Calombaris the wage thief’, ‘George Calombaris in his Toorak mansion living the big life’, blah blah. It went disgustingly bad.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Unfortunately, the name George Calombaris, when it was high, everyone was flying and loved it, everyone wanted to be around it. But when they did that list I became this poster boy as the wage thief. It punched us right in the face.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Daniel Munoz/WireImage</em></p>

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Woman's $940k theft from vet hospital to play pokies app

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A woman has pleaded guilty to stealing $940,000 from her employer, after using the funds to fuel her addiction to an online gambling game that doesn’t pay out real money.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tasmanian woman Rachel Naomi Perri appeared before Hobart’s Supreme Court on Monday facing 25 charges of computer-related fraud and one count of fraud.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Perri, 49, stole the money over the three years she worked at the Tasmanian Veterinary Hospital as an account manager.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The “anomalies” in bank transactions were only discovered after Ms Perri was made redundant.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The full extent of her theft was uncovered after a full investigation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crown prosecutor Simone Wilson told the court that Ms Perri made 475 fraudulent transactions over the course of three years and four months, with the final amount totalling $940,221.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Wilson told the court that Ms Perri was the only person managing the hospital’s bank accounts and transferred money from the accounts to a variety of credit cards, personal loans, and other bank accounts in her name.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Police also discovered that Ms Perri had fraudulently taken out a $30,000 credit card in her husband’s name in 2015, racking up $24,000 in debt without her husband’s knowledge.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When she was interviewed by police in 2019, Ms Perri “immediately said, ‘I’m guilty’.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The court heard that Ms Perri told police she had been playing a game called Heart of Vegas for the past four years, which is where all of the money had gone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is similar to playing pokies and you shop to purchase coins or credits,” Ms Wilson told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[But the] credit purchased never turned into actual money. She couldn’t explain why she was playing that game when there was no return.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heart of Vegas claims to feature “real Vegas slot machines just like the ones you know and love”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Its terms and conditions also state that players “may be required to pay a fee to obtain virtual items”, but that “virtual items may never be redeemed for ‘real world money’”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Wilson read out Ms Perri’s interview with police to the court and said she was in her “own little world” while playing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I got myself into so much trouble but decided I’d keep going until [I] got caught,” she </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-23/woman-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-940k-from-her-workplace/100639450" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the record of the interview.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I knew I couldn’t get away with it. I was waiting for a knock on the door from police.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Greg Barns, Ms Perri’s lawyer, told the court that the accused had a “lengthy history of gambling” that started when she turned 18 in Launceston.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She began to use poker machines and she won $26 from placing a dollar into a machine and, as she described it, it went from there,” he told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Grant said his client had moved from Launceston to Hobart for a fresh start, but began gambling 2008-09.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She described spending consecutive hours on poker machines,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One session she spent 16 hours continuously playing on the machine.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Ms Perri discovered Heart of Vegas, Mr Barns said she became so addicted that she would keep spending money just to “keep playing the game”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She got so addicted that she’d play it first thing in the morning,” he told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She would set it up at night so it played in auto.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Perri was diagnosed as having a severe gambling disorder by forensic psychiatrist Dr Michael Jordan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He considered that Perri’s gambling disorder was the most significant factor in her fraud activity,” Mr Barns told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[Her gambling was mindless, with no hope of any financial gain.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Barns told the court that Ms Perri voluntarily entered therapy and would need to continue once she was in prison.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said it was unlikely that his client would be able to pay back the veterinary services, after they instituted civil proceedings to recover the money.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Wilson said the accused’s behaviour was “planned” and “calculated”, and that she only stopped because she was made redundant.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The prospects of her recovering are slim to non-existent,” she told the court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Perri has been remanded in custody until she is sentenced next month.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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