Tweed-Byron Police District probing raft of ‘linked’ break-and-enters, car thefts

Byron Shire residents have had their homes raided in a string of break-ins – with a burglar busted climbing through a bathroom window in one early morning incident. Here’s what happened.

Residents caught one of the crooks trying to sneak in through a bathroom window.

Byron Shire residents have had their homes raided in a string of break-ins – with a burglar busted climbing through a bathroom window in one early morning raid.

The owners of a Honda which was stolen tracked their car and phoned triple-0 for help.

Tweed-Byron Police District officers were called to a break-and-enter at a home on Fingal Street at Brunswick Heads about 4.50am on Tuesday.

Thieves stole the keys to a Honda CR-V from a home on Fingal St, Brunswick Heads before the car crashed into the garage of a Byron Bay home.

Police were told a resident was woken by three males who nabbed the keys to a silver Honda CR-V parked on the street, which was driven from the residence.

Soon after, residents of a Balun Lane home “disturbed a male climbing through a bathroom window”, according to a NSW Police statement.

He fled to the Honda and took off with the pair of co-offenders, however, the stolen car’s owners trailed the vehicle and phoned emergency services.

The Honda was travelling with a green Volkswagen Passat stolen from Hayes Street at Goonellabah earlier in the morning, according to police.

Later, officers found the Honda driving west along Tweed Road. The driver failed to stop for police and a subsequent chase reached speeds of 140km/h.

A police chase reached speeds of up to 140km/h. Picture: File/Thomas Lisson

The pursuit reached Jacaranda Avenue, Byron Bay and the vehicle crashed into the garage of a home on Jacaranda Drive. The residence was extensively damaged.

The three males fled and police including the Dog Squad took off after the trio.

About 7am, police responded to another home invasion and the theft of a grey Hyundai Getz at a residence on Julian Rocks Drive, Byron Bay.

The Volkswagen was found on Cains Road at Byron, but no one was with the car.

Police state “all incidents are believed to be linked and officers established multiple crime scenes.”

The VW and the Honda have been seized and were due to be forensically examined.

Police urged anyone with more information, or relevant dashcam and mobile phone footage, to contact Byron Bay police, or phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.