Here is a summary of the latest police news on the Fleurieu.

Fatal boat crash at Finniss

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal boat crash at Finniss.

Just before 4pm on Sunday 19 January, police and emergency services were called to the boat ramp off Tonkin Road after a small inflatable dinghy and a small aluminium dinghy collided on a bend of the Finniss River near the boat ramp.

Sadly the operator of the inflatable dinghy, a 37-year-old man from Sellicks Hill and a passenger from the aluminium dinghy, a 40-year-old man from Murray Bridge both died at the scene.

The operator of the aluminium dinghy, a 36-year-old man from Port Noarlunga South and a passenger from the inflatable dinghy, a 42-year-old woman from Yankalilla have both been taken to the Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries.

Anyone who witnessed this crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.  In particular, police would like to hear from two witnesses who were fishing at the location and assisted paramedics.

Police will prepare a report for the State Coroner.

Aldinga Beach break-in

Two people have been arrested after a break-in at Aldinga Beach.

Police will allege that just after 2.30am today (Monday 20 January) patrols were called to a café on the Esplanade, after an alarm activation. Police found that alcohol, cash and cheesecakes had been stolen. One suspect was located nearby on Thomas Street and was arrested.

Police continued to search the area, and a police dog was called in to assist. The second suspect was located about 5.30am, with all the stolen items recovered.

A 36-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both from Aldinga Beach, will face charges of aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft.

The 36-year-old man is expected to be refused bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court later today. The 16-year-old boy was bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Police search for suspected arsonist on Kangaroo Island

Emergency service personnel on Kangaroo Island were alerted to some abnormal fire activity in an area adjacent to a pine plantation in the early hours of Thursday 16 January.

CFS had been proactively patrolling this area, with some vegetation still smouldering. At about 4.45am emergency service personnel saw a new fire outbreak within an already burnt pine plantation along Pioneer Bend Road. 

They believe they saw a person near the fire who could have been deliberately setting fire to some unburnt vegetation. This action did not result in any damage as it quickly self-extinguished.

There is no description of this person. A SAPOL member also saw a torchlight being operated in the same area.

A comprehensive search was undertaken in an effort to locate this person but to no avail.  

Police are continuing investigations into this matter. They ask that if anyone has any information as to who this person might be – or who may see or hear anything suspicious to please call triple 000 if there is an immediate threat; 131444 for police attendance; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

Man to face court over child sex offences

On Tuesday 14 January Detectives from the Public Protection Branch, Special Crimes Investigation Section, arrested a 36-year-old man from the Fleurieu Peninsula for persistent sexual exploitation of a child, sexual manipulation of a child, unlawful sexual Intercourse and breach of bail.

The man was refused police bail to and was expected to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court later that day.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online. 

Traffic report

Fatal crash at Mount Compass

A man has died in a crash at Mount Compass.

Just after 8.10am today (Monday, January 20) police and emergency services were called to the intersection of Victor Harbor Road and Jacobs Road, after reports that a car had collided with a tree.

The driver and sole occupant, a 67-year-old McLaren Vale man died at the scene.

Traffic diversions are in place for both directions on Victor Harbor Road, and please avoid the area if possible.

Major Crash investigators are examining the circumstances of the collision, and anyone with information or dashcam footage that may assist police is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online.

The man’s death takes the number of lives lost on South Australian roads to six, compared to eight at this time last year.

Cars impounded following street race

Police have impounded two cars and reported two irresponsible drivers following a street race at O'Halloran Hill.

Just after midnight on Sunday the 19 January, police from the Southern Road Policing Section were conducting speed detection duties on the Southern Expressway when a white Mitsubishi Lancer sedan was detected travelling at 136km/h in a 100km/h zone.  The vehicle appeared to be in company with a Subaru Impreza sedan as it passed the police location.  

Police will further allege both vehicles were seen to accelerate and make several erratic and dangerous lane changes whilst following each other in what appeared to be a street race.  Police maintained observations on the vehicles before both slowed down and pulled over.

The driver of the Subaru, a 39-year-old man from Nangkita and the driver of the Mitsubishi, a 24-year-old man from Christie Downs, were both reported for aggravated street racing, driving in a manner dangerous and speed dangerous.  

They will be summonsed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates at a later date and police may make application to the Courts for forfeiture of both vehicles.

The Mitsubishi was defected due to major modifications and breaches of the Australian Vehicle Standards, whilst the Subaru was defected due to significant collision damage from a previous incident. Both vehicles were also impounded for 28 days.

Of concern to police was both vehicles had adult passengers while a 6-year-old child was also located in one of the cars. 

Man arrested in stolen ute at Mount Compass 

A Beachport man has been arrested after he was found in a stolen ute at Mount Compass on Thursday 16 January.

On Wednesday 15 January a Victor Harbor patrol stopped a man driving a white ute north on the Victor Harbor Road at Mount Compass.  After a brief police check on the car the man was allowed to drive off.

It wasn't until later on in the same shift the patrol officers realised the make of the Isuzu ute they saw was different to the registration check, which showed it should have been a Holden Colorado.

However the same Victor Harbor patrol was working in the early hours of Thursday morning when they saw the same man driving the same utility again on the Victor Harbor Road at Mount Compass, this time heading south.

The patrol again spoke to the driver and this time they checked the VIN number on the vehicle, discovering the utility had been stolen from Seacliff in June last year.

The 53-year-old man from Beachport was arrested and charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle, driving an unregistered and uninsured car and driving with unassigned plates. He was bailed to appear in court at a later date.