North Coast cop crackdown on property crime continues following three arrests for serious property theft, break and enter, police pursuits
A strategic crackdown across multiple police districts is continuing across the North Coast where officers are tackling serious property crime under Strike Force Imperium. Here’s what’s happening.
Lismore
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Police commands across the North Coast, in conjunction with specialist commands, have made three arrests following the formation of Strike Force Imperium.
Formed on February 3, the a high-visibility police operation will continue to focus on preventing and disrupting crime and target serious property-related crime in the state’s north.
Tweed/Byron police have arrested and charged a 25-year-old man hiding in a garage at a home William St, Tweed Heads after a cross-border police pursuit.
About 12.30pm on February 4, police were patrolling Tweed Heads South when they attempted to stop a vehicle reported stolen from Queensland.
Police allegedly pursued the driver when he failed to stop, but ceased the chase when the vehicle entered Queensland.
Investigating officers attended a home on William Street, Tweed Heads South about 8am on February 5 where they located and arrested the man in the garage of the property.
Police allegedly seized stolen credit cards, a woman’s bag and sunglasses after searching the man.
He was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station where he was charged with two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, receive property stolen outside NSW, larceny, police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, and drive while licence cancelled.
The man faced Tweed Heads Local Court February 5 where he refused bail and ordered to reappear before the same court on March 24.
Police also responded to reports of an aggravated break and enter at home on Wollongbar Drive, Wollongbar about 1.30am on February 5.
Occupants told police four people entered the property before stealing a bag and keys.
Following inquiries, police executed a search warrant at a Casino home at 9am on February 7.
Police arrested a 15-year-old boy and took him to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed, and break and enter house to steal.
The boy was also charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, possess prohibited drug, and shoplifting.
He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court on February 8 and then granted conditional bail to reappear before a children’s court on February 28.
Between 1am and 3.30am on January 25, a unit on Barker Street, Casino, was allegedly broken into and a Honda hatchback was taken from the home.
About 4.10am on January 25, police attempted to stop the hatchback in Casino.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated and continued to West Street where the hatchback crashed into a motorhome.
The alleged driver, a 16-year-old boy, was taken to Lismore Base Hospital, while the alleged passenger, a 13-year-old boy, was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
A critical incident investigation was launched on February 3 as a result of the seriousness of the 13-year-old boy’s injuries.
Officers from Tweed/Byron have formed a critical incident investigation team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged pursuit.
The alleged driver was charged with five offences and remains before the courts.
On February 7 police investigating the alleged break and enter also arrested a 16-year-old boy at a Casino home.
He was taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-people there, aggravated break and enter with intent, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and never licensed person drive vehicle on road.
He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court on February 7, where he was formally refused bail to reappear before a children’s court on February 25.
Police investigations have included three more search warrants as inquiries under Strike Force Imperium continue.
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