FOURTEEN people have been charged in Moree during Operation Soteria, which was established to target youth crime in the western and northern regional areas of New South Wales.
Between Thursday, April 3 and Saturday, April 5, officers from New England Police District, assisted by officers attached to the Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and Youth Command were deployed to Moree for a three-day operation.
As a result of the operation:
14 people were charged with a total of 27 offences;
44 random drug tests were conducted with 4 positive results;
29 traffic infringements notices were issued with 19 traffic cautions issued;
10 people were searched;
10 vehicles were searched; and
42 bail compliance checks were conducted.
At about 4.40pm on Thursday, April 3, a 37-year-old man was arrested at a home on Auburn Street, Moree.
He was taken to Moree Police Station and charged with break-and-enter house steal value less than $60,000, larceny, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse.
He was refused bail and appeared before Tamworth Local Court on Friday, April 4, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Moree Local Court on Monday, April 14.
A 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old woman who were arrested for a break-and-enter at a home on Amaroo Drive, Moree, on February 14.
The boy was arrested about 10.15am on Thursday, April 3 on Amaroo Drive, Moree.
He was taken to Moree Police Station and charged with aggravated break-and-enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict actual bodily harm and take and drive conveyance without consent of owner.
He was refused bail and appeared at a children’s court on Thursday, where he was formally refused bail to appear before court on Monday, April 14.
At about 8.45am on Thursday, April 3, a search warrant was executed on a home at Howarth Street, Wyong.
The 19-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station where she was charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence – in company – steal, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and recruit child to carry out/assist criminal activity.
She was refused bail an appeared before Wyong Local Court on Thursday, April 3, where she was formally refused bail to appear before Moree Local Court on Monday, June 2.
Investigations under Operation Soteria continue.
Meanwhile, two more people have been charged following an investigation into an alleged aggravated break-and-enter at a Bourke motel in February.
At about 4.50am on February 22, officers attached to Central North Police District were called to a motel on Anson Street, Bourke, following reports of a break-and-enter.
Police were told a group of unknown people allegedly armed with knives forced entry into staff accommodation at the motel and threatened the occupant – a 24-year-old man – before stealing cash, bank cards and mobile phones.
The group then allegedly broke into a second motel room and threatened the occupant – a 52-year-old man – with long knives, before fleeing with cash, bank cards and a mobile phone.
The older man suffered a minor cut to his neck, with no other injuries reported.
The group allegedly crashed through a locked gate in a white Holden sedan before driving off.
A crime scene was established which was examined by specialist officers.
At about 11am the same day, officers located the allegedly stolen Holden sedan on Lewana Place, Orange.
The vehicle – which had front end damage to the windscreen and hood – was seized for forensic examination.
Following inquiries, an 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were charged and remain before the courts.
As investigations continued, on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, detectives attended two homes on Cullie Street and Adelaide Street, Bourke and arrested an 18-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy.
They were taken to Bourke Police Station where they were both charged with aggravated break-and-enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
The man was refused bail and appeared before Lightning Ridge Local Court last Thursday where he was formally refused to appear before Bourke Local Court on June 5.
Police Media
Will all these criminals just get a slap on the wrist again and made to pay a fine or pay bail., by our Woke judical system?.As I have lost faith in many ways. Therefore harsh penaltys should be given…