A teenage boy will face court over an alleged series of break-and-enters involving knives in Moree last week.

At about 3.15am on Boxing Day, emergency services responded to reports of a break-in at a hotel room on Amaroo Drive, Moree.

Police were informed three males armed with knives had allegedly forced entry into the room.

A 63-year-old female occupant was assaulted. An 83-year-old man also in the room at the time was uninjured.

The males left the location after allegedly stealing a car belonging to the couple.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the woman where she was taken to Moree District Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Officers from New England Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.

It will be alleged that about an hour later the same males drove the vehicle to a hotel on Mungindi Road and broke into a room where they became involved in a physical altercation with the occupant – a 51-year-old man – before running from the room.

This vehicle was stolen during a series of break-and-enters in Moree over Christmas.

The occupant was not injured.

Police will further allege the males forced entry to a second room at the hotel where a 78-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were also allegedly threatened with knives before leaving the location with their vehicle.

The males have driven from the location in both vehicles.

A short time later the males drove to a third hotel on Warialda Street and allegedly forced entry into a room occupied by a 44-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy taking possession of the keys to their car.

The males were challenged by another hotel guest – a 46-year-old man – who they allegedly threatened with a knife.

Police have been told the males entered one of the alleged stolen vehicles and drove it at the man before crashing into a parked vehicle.

The males exited the vehicle and left the scene in the two remaining vehicles.

Following inquiries, officers arrested a 14-year-old boy at a home in Moree about 4.25pm on New Year’s Day.

At the time of the arrest the boy was allegedly found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

He was taken to Moree Police Station and charged with seven offences including:

• Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-use violence;
• Aggravated break-and-enter with intent- armed;
• Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity;
• Possess prohibited drug;
• Use etc offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence; and
• Aggravated break-and-enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed x 2.

The boy was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Children’s Court Thursday, January 2.

Inquiries are continuing.

Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, said police were doing an incredible job.

“Hopefully, the judicial system will do its job,” Mr Moylan said.

“Our local police do an incredible job and, rightly, have the full support of our local community.

“I’ll keep pushing for extra police resources, not just in Moree, but right across the Tablelands.”

Meanwhile, two teenagers faced court on New Year’s Eve after being charged in relation to a number of recent aggravated break-and-enter offences in the Tamworth area.

In the most recent incident, at about 5.15am on Monday, December 30, police were called to Hyman Street, East Tamworth, following reports of an aggravated break-and-enter.

A 45-year-old female resident heard noises coming from the kitchen and disturbed two young males carrying torches.

They allegedly threatened the woman and demanded the keys to a Volkswagen, another vehicle and a mobile phone.

The two young males then left the house and drove off in a black Volkswagen sedan.

Officers from Oxley Police District attended and declared a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident.

Following inquiries, at about 10am police executed a search warrant at a house in Kinarra Street, South Tamworth.

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy and seized a number of items which police will allege in Court links them to the aggravated break and enter at East Tamworth.

Both boys were taken to Tamworth Police Station where the 15-year-old boy was charged with nine offences.

In relation to the East Tamworth incident, he was charged with aggravated break-and-enter and commit serious indictable offence, stalk-intimidate intend fear-physical harm and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.

In relation to a reported aggravated break-and-enter offence at Hillvue on Christmas Eve, he was charged with six offences – aggravated break-and-enter and commit serious indictable offence while armed, break, enter and steal, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner (two counts), goods in custody and possess prohibited weapon.

The 16-year-old boy was charged with aggravated break-and-enter and commit serious indictable offence, stalk-intimidate intend fear-physical harm and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was also charged with breaching bail.

Both boys were refused bail and appeared before a Children’s Court on December 31.

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