Macdonald pleads guilty to 1990s regional bank robberies

Alexander Robert Macdonald, 76, pleaded guilty to two armed bank robberies in regional NSW. He used hostages as human shields to escape both times.

Why it mattersThe sentencing closes a decades-old case and shows how old crimes can catch up with offenders even after long prison terms.

AustraliaCase resolves a quarter-century-old criminal matter in rural NSW, with the offender finally facing court for crimes committed during his 1995 prison escape.

✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 d ago

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Victoria's car thefts and break-ins surge far past every other state

Victoria's home break-ins nearly doubled NSW and Queensland combined, while Melbourne topped all other capitals in car thefts.

Why it mattersRising property crime drives up insurance premiums for all Victorians and signals a public safety problem the police alone cannot fix.