Tag Archives: oceania

Chilling footage shows masked men breaking into woman’s bedroom before robbery

The horrifying moment two masked men broke into a woman's bedroom before stealing a wallet and Christmas presents during a home invasion in Melbourne's north has been caught on camera.

Two men allegedly smashed their way into the front bedroom of a home on Dalton Road in Lalor about 3am on December 5.

The alleged offenders then threatened the woman – who was in bed – with a knife and stole a bag with her wallet, along with presents found underneath a Christmas tree elsewhere in the home.

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Home invasion Lalor, Melbourne

Police said the offenders then smashed the woman's car window and slashed her tyres before fleeing the scene.

The woman was not physically harmed during the incident.

Detectives are treating it as a targeted break-in.

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Home invasion Lalor, Melbourne

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Police have shared CCTV footage of the home invasion, including vision of the two men they believe can assist with the investigation.

The offenders are described as being aged in their 20s and wearing hooded jumpers, trackpants, balaclavas and carrying backpacks.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Son of AFL great identified as a rapist as order lifts

The son of AFL great Stephen Silvagni can now be identified as the man from a high-profile family who was convicted of rape.

Tom Silvagni's identity had been suppressed throughout his rape trial but the order was lifted today by Victorian County Court Judge Andrew Palmer.

Silvagni, the youngest son of Stephen, was on December 5 convicted of two counts of rape.

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Tom Silvagni pictured leaving court IMPORTANT **ONLY USE IF SUPPRESSION ORDER IS LIFTED**

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He had denied he digitally raped his friend's girlfriend at his Melbourne home in the early hours of January 14, 2024.

The jury was told the woman had consensual sex with her boyfriend at the house but then he organised an Uber and left the property shortly before 2am.

Silvagni then lied, telling the woman her boyfriend would be returning upstairs because his Uber had been cancelled.

But it was Silvagni who went into the dark bedroom a short time later and pretended to be the woman's boyfriend before digitally raping her twice.

In the days after, he doctored an Uber receipt to make it look like the victim's boyfriend had left the house after 2.30am.

Silvagni was first charged with rape in June 2024 but his lawyers successfully sought to have his case suppressed in the magistrates court.

He was ordered to stand trial in February 2025 following a committal hearing and his defence once again applied for the suppression to continue.

Tom Silvagni pictured leaving court IMPORTANT **ONLY USE IF SUPPRESSION ORDER IS LIFTED**

A County Court judge overturned the suppression in May but Silvagni's lawyers quickly appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

The justice ruled in his favour in August and Silvagni's identity was suppressed for his two-week trial in late November.

Media were also prohibited from publishing any information that could identify the Silvagni family, including any references to the AFL.

Silvagni, who worked as an AFL player agent at Kapital Sports Group, is the brother of St Kilda player Jack.

His father Stephen is a two-time premiership player for the Carlton Football Club and was inducted into both the AFL and Carlton Hall of Fame.

His mother Jo Silvagni is a well-known Australian television personality.

Tom Silvagni will face a pre-sentence hearing tomorrow.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Silicone mask, grenade, guns and 15k rounds of ammunition found stashed in storage unit

A man has been charged after $140,000 and multiple weapons, including a grenade, loaded guns and 15,000 rounds of live ammunition were seized following multiple raids across Sydney's south-west.

Police began an investigation on Monday after reports that firearms and ammunition were found inside a storage unit on Milperra Road in Revesby.

Authorities were called, and a crime scene was established.

A lifelike silicone mask seized by police.

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A search warrant was then executed at the storage unit, and police seized a "flashbang" grenade, seven firearms, three gel blasters, 15,000 rounds of live ammunition, numerous loaded and unloaded magazines and seven ballistic vests.

The haul also included 16 electronic stun devices, handcuffs, firearms parts, including silencers, tracking devices, knives, electronic devices, a security uniform, and life-like silicone head masks.

A 39-year-old man was later arrested at around 10.15am following a vehicle stop on The Avenue Road in Yagoona and was taken to Bankstown Police Station.

A rifle was among the seven firearms seized.Another of the rifles found.

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Police later conducted three more search warrants at a property on The Avenue, Yagoona, a second property on Keswick Street in Georges Hall, and a storage facility in Moorebank.

One loaded pistol, a loaded revolver, two firearms, firearm parts, six magazines, two silencers, mobile phones and about $140,000 cash were found in the searches and later seized by police.

A flashbang grenade was found in the storage container.15,000 rounds of ammunition were found.

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The 39-year-old has been charged with 60 offences, including the possession of multiple unregistered firearms, the possession of unauthorised and prohibited firearms.

He was refused bail and will appear before Bankstown Local Court today. 

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Bupa fined $35m for misleading thousands of customers for over five years

Bupa has been handed a $35 million fine for misleading customers, hospitals and medical providers about its private health insurance benefits.

The health provider was found to have told members they were unable to receive benefits for mixed coverage and uncategorised item claims between May 2018 to August 2023, when they were actually entitled to those benefits.

More than 4100 claims were affected by behaviour the federal court ruled as false, misleading, deceptive, and unconscionable.

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A Bupa health insurance sign.

These claims were mostly for hospital treatments where two or more procedures were performed at the same time.

Some were for claims where only part of the treatment was covered by a member's policy.

Medical providers and hospitals also did not receive the money they were entitled to.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) began court action against the nation's second-largest private health insurer in June.

Today, the federal court has ordered Bupa to pay $35 million and abide by a five-year injuction prohibting the provider from breaching the rules.

Bupa has paid back most of the affected customers $14.3 million relating to more than 4100 claims. 

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The government has released a plan aimed at increasing the number of patients treated through elective surgery.

ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said Bupa's actions were "extremely serious" as thousands of customers suffered financial harm, pain, suffering and emotional distress.

"Some of Bupa's members decided to cancel, delay or forego necessary treatment, resulting in potential medical risks or complications, because they were incorrectly told they were not entitled to health insurance benefits," she said.

"Private health insurance can be a significant expense for consumers, and people rightly expect to receive the level of coverage they pay for."

Bupa accepted the court decision and apologised to its customers.

"We remain deeply sorry for these errors and have apologised to our affected customers for the impact this has had on them and their families and have taken actions to ensure this doesn't occur again," the provider said in a statement. 

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