Six teenagers arrested after online assault and robbery trap, ute and toolbox seized

Police have arrested six teenagers after a series of linked alleged assaults and robberies across the North Coast. The teens allegedly used dating apps to lure their victims.

Six teenagers have been arrested following alleged assaults and robberies on five men aged between 27 and 77 who were tricked into thinking they were meeting someone through dating apps.

Each of the five victims required hospital treatment.

Police allege the victims arranged to meet with people they had spoken to online - before being allegedly attacked and robbed by the teens.

On Thursday (November 17), police arrested a 16-year-old boy during a vehicle stop on Langs Way in Broadwater, where he was charged with four counts of robbery in company cause wounding/grievous bodily harm and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

A 17 -year-old boy was arrested yesterday (Friday November 18) at Ballina Police Station and charged with two counts of aggravated robbery with wounding and wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Both were refused bail and appeared at children’s court yesterday.

The same day a further two 17-year-old boys were arrested and charged with aggravated robbery with wounding and wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The pair were refused bail to appear in a children’s court today (Saturday November 19).

Strike Force Temoin was established after the men, aged 27, 50, 53, 58 and 77 were allegedly attacked by the teens at Evans Head and Ballina.

The white flat-tray utility believed to have been driven by a group of males suspected of a series of linked assaults on the North Coast. Picture: NSW Police

The separate assaults occurred between between October 31 and November 12 at Evans Head and Ballina.

The first alleged assault occurred at about 5.30pm on October 31, when a 58-year-old man was attacked at Chinamans Beach carpark at Evans Head.

On arrival, the victim was allegedly confronted by two males and dragged from his car before being repeatedly assaulted.

The vehicle was stolen before emergency services were alerted, and the man was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment.

The second incident occurred on November 5, when a 77-year-old man was allegedly confronted and attacked by four youths at Evans Head Skate Park after having arranged through the internet to meet someone.

The man was briefly unconscious following the alleged assault and contacted emergency services when he came to. He was taken to Lismore Base Hospital.

The following day, a 27-year-old man was seriously injured after allegedly being attacked by four males in a park on Elm Street in Evans Head after organising to meet a woman he had spoken to online earlier in the day.

The man’s vehicle was smashed in before he fled to a medical centre nearby. He was also transferred to Lismore Base Hospital.

On November 12, a 53-year-old and 50-year-old were allegedly assaulted in separate incidents by a group of youths in Ballina.

Both had items allegedly stolen from them and the men were taken to Ballina Hospital.

Police believe the five alleged assaults are linked, and CCTV images and footage of a white flat-tray utility vehicle was released on November 17.

Acting on information provided by the public, police seized a white ute at a property on the Pacific Highway in Broadwater at 1.20pm, as well as a toolbox, for forensic examination.

UPDATE:

Two further teens have been arrested, a 17-year old girl, charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and a 16 year old boy, charged with four counts of robbery in company cause wounding and harm person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.