How not to attract Police attention...

Police chopper zapped with laser

Police have charged a man after a laser attack on a police helicopter in Sydney's north-west last night.

The charges were laid as new laws banning laser pointers from public places without a reasonable explanation were passed through State Parliament last night.

The helicopter was about 500 metres in the air over Bella Vista about 6pm when the crew were allegedly targeted with a green laser beam.

The alleged attack "distracted and disoriented" the crew, but none were injured, police said.
The crew figured out the source of the laser beam, which was from the yard of a house in Eastbourne Way, Bella Vista.

After landing the helicopter nearby, they contacted local police who arrested a 19-year-old man and seized a green laser device.
The man was charged with interfering with a crew member while in an aircraft.

He was given bail and will face Hornsby Local Court on July 22.

A spokesman for Castle Hill police said the helicopter was on a training flight, but could not say how many crew members there were. Police would not elaborate further.