Man charged after gang raided house with baseball bats

POLICE have charged a man in relation to a violent home invasion at Inglewood last week as well as five drug drivers as part of Operation Mike Author.

Picture: Tessa Mapstone

A MAN has been charged after a violent home invasion at Inglewood last week.

Police allege that six men, armed with baseball bats, stormed a residence on Thursday night and assaulted occupants.

Stanthorpe Police officer in charge Mark Ireland said officers from Goondiwindi CIB travelled to Stanthorpe on Saturday and executed a search warrant at the alleged offender's home.

"He was charged with enter with intent at night, in company and while armed, three assault occasioning bodily harm with respect to that matter, and was further charged with a number of unrelated drug and firearm related offences," he said.

"Police are continuing investigations into the incident and are hopeful of identifying and charging the other men involved in the Inglewood offence."

In other crime news, police nabbed five drug drivers in Operation Mike Author last week.

Wallangarra police, assisted by officers from both Stanthorpe and the Roadside Drug Testing unit, targeted vehicles in Wallangarra and Stanthorpe between Wednesday and Friday.

"Seven people were charged with possessing either meth amphetamines, or cannabis, while the drivers of five vehicles - three of them being heavy vehicles - tested positive for drugs in their system while driving," Sergeant Ireland said.

"Operation Mike Author is one of a number of traffic operations conducted by police throughout the year which specifically target drugs and vehicles."

Another operation that continues in Stanthorpe is Operation Mike Joystick, which targets the spate of property offences over past months.

Sergeant Ireland said police were working on educating the community to prevent further offences.

"In most cases, complacency on behalf of some residents and owners of vehicles has resulted in the theft of large amounts of property from unsecured premises and vehicles," he said.

"Police will continue to distribute crime prevention material to residences over the coming weeks, particularly with the influx of itinerant workers expected shortly, in an endeavour to educate people about property and personal security."