Main Yarra Trail, Koonung Creek Trail and Mullum Mullum Creek Trail .

Police have access to complex geographical systems  that aren’t available to the public but Google satellites (Google 2014c), is an incredible program combining satellite, aerial, and street-level iews of the world that allows users to explore from home in much the same way police use dedicated geographical systems to profile criminals. The geographic locales of Mr. Cruel crimes reveal some telling aspects of his knowledge of the physical layout used in the neighbourhoods in which he offended.  Study the crime sites and it becomes crystal clear the high level of intelligence and planning applied to these crimes. Not one escape route but multiple exit paths in every single scene.  The standout feature from above the Mr. Cruel triangle  is the Yarra River that slithers, snake-like across the landscape, and the series of connected trail paths that wind and twist through the compacted suburban areas. 

All Trails Map - Main Yarra Trail, Koonung Creek Trail and Mullum Mullum Creek Trail . 

The Main Yarra Trail, Koonung Creek Trail and Mullum Mullum Creek Trail is a 42km circular track that travels through the extensive green wedge of Manningham just outside of Melbourne . The route can be taken in smaller sections and commenced from many different reserves and park areas ( All Trails).  The All Trails map a near mirror image of the Mr. Cruel Triangle . Go to Google maps - type  in the site address of each victim, zoom in and you see the trail paths passing close by, perfectly for anyone planning a devious plot . Each trail path connects back to the Main Yarra Trail .  The address of the Lower Plenty crime site is unknown to the public but it has been reported that the house may be situated on the Old Eltham Rd. It is assumed that the location is close to Bonds Rd, Lower Plenty because  the end of this street connects directly to the Main Yarra Trail and the Ruffey Creek bridge at Finns Reserve that provides a crossing of the Yarra River . The  end of Sharon's street,  Hillcrest Avenue, Ringwood connects to the  Mullum Mullum Trail that also joins the Main Yarra Trail at  Finns Reserve and will take you all the way into the city. Sharon was released  at Bayswater High School via Church Rd which provides close access to multiple trail paths . At the end of  Church St you can cross the Dandenong Creek and follow the Heathmont Rail Trail all the way back to Ringwood or follow on the Dandenong Creek Trail to a series of connecting trails that also  take you back that way .  Nicola was taken from her home on Monomeath Cres, Canterbury, transported in her parents car a short way to Chaucer Cres, before being moved into another strategically placed getaway vehicle.  Viewing the scene  from above it is not hard to see the multitude of escape routes if things went bad . Every street  off Chaucer Crescent connects to Dudley Parade that  runs to the Camberwell rail line and connects to the Anniversary Trail that leads directly back to the Main Yarra Trail.  At the end of Tennyson St where Nicola was released  connects to the Anniversary Trail and the various trails that lead back to the Main Yarra Trail. Lastly , the same can be seen in the Karmein Chan case .  Mr. Cruel had parked his getaway vehicle on Church Rd, as reported then we can see why. There are not only a multitude of roads running off Church Rd that provide access points to the Ruffey Creek Trail running directly back to Finns Reserve Bridge crossing at the Main Yarra Trail. At the end of Church Rd, you can also  clearly see the  big green space that is Ruffey Creek Park also, leading on to the same trail that runs back to Finns Reserve .  Karmein’s body was found at the Thomastown Terminal Station, in a shallow grave on the edge of Edgar Creek. 

 It shows the level of planning and knowledge of the Main Yarra trail and connecting paths. He knew these trail paths well  - Crime Pattern Theory (Brantingham and Brantingham, 1993), hypothesis is that offenders like everybody else, take information from their environment during their normal legitimate everyday activities. Brantinghams describe it as ‘activity nodes' which corresponds to a place where someone stops to perform everyday life activities. Activity nodes include, home, workplace , shopping , places for leisure or the home of family and friends . Then on the other hand, ‘paths’ can describe the routes between ‘nodes’.  Together they form the offenders ‘activity  space” .  It is within this activity space the offender and victim collide. 

A big standout is the fact that most of the mentioned trail paths lead to the Ruffey Creek Suspension Bridge. Interestingly, the Bulleen Tennis Club on Thompson Rd, Templestowe runs directly to to Finns Reserve/Ruffey Creek Bridge. 

Sharon Wills: Abduction

11 Hillcrest Ave, Ringwood to Eastlink Trail/Mullum Mullum Trail 340m

Sharon was abducted fro her home on Hillcrest Ave which runs directly to the Mullum Mullum track (340m).  

Sharon Wills: Release 

Situated behind Bayswater Secondary College where Sharon Wills was released is Dandenong Creek Trail 179m

Nicola Lynas: Abduction

There are multiple paths from Chaucer Cres, Canterbury to Anniversary Trail 249m. The closest entry point runs of Chaucer Cres. via Rowy Street. 

Nicola Lynas: Release

105 Tennyson St, Kew to Anniversary Trail 659m

At the end of Tennyson St, Kew is an entry to the Anniversary Trail (380m) and very close to the connecting Main Yarra Trail/Yarra Bend. In fact, There are many street routes to the Anniversary Trail. Park St and Disraeli st that run beside Eglinton Reserve run directly to an  access  point on to  the Anniversary Trail and the Outer Circle Trail. The Anniversary trail connects  to  the Main Yarra Trail. 

Karmein Chan: Abduction

109 Serpells Rd, Templestowe to Ruffey Creek Trail 818m

The end of Church Road that runs off Serpells Rd connects to the Ruffey Creek Trail (880m). The Ruffey Creek Trail connects to the Main Yarra Trail near Wombat Bend. The end of Serpells and left at Duxson Drive also provides an entry point to Ruffey Creek Trail (1.5km).

Karmein Chan: Remains Location

Thomastown Electrical Station

As previously discussed, accessibility and location are important factors for serial rapists when selecting their victims. The trail paths would have provided  an excellent escape route and without a doubt Mr. Cruel was familiar with them. Was it through employment , residency or  past connections?