Operation Regional Mongoose: NSW Police commence operation targeting youth in Dubbo, Moree, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Armidale

Police are hunting youth criminals taking over the streets in regional towns across NSW. Here is what we know.

NSW Police are targeting youth offenders, some as young as 10, in relation to an increase in regional crime across the state.

Acting assistant commissioner and acting western region commander Bob Noble launched Operational Regional Mongoose because of the increase in “concerning crime trends” involving young offenders, across the western region and other parts of the state.

Mr Noble confirmed an increase in break and enters and offences of homes, stealing motor vehicles, “very serious” traffic offences, including pursuits, and extreme acts of violence.

“Dubbo will be led by an experienced detective superintendent with a team of detectives and intelligence analysts working under those arrangements – we will also involve police from districts across the western region,” he said.

“It is not an epidemic of crime, but the serious nature of the crime demands an escalated response at the time, and hence the invocation of operational reasons.”

Acting assistant commissioner and acting western region commander Bob Noble. Photo: Tijana Birdjan

Traffic and highway patrol, forensic services and police from Police Citizens Youth Clubs, the dog squad and other business units will also be assisting in the operation when required.

Mr Noble said there is “very strong evidence” that some of the young offenders are uploading social media content of the crimes they are committing.

“It’s driving a form of one upmanship and that is very concerning – we know if people continue to escalate and try to one up their friends who engage in this kind of activity … that can only end in tragedy,” he said.

“No one does think you’re cool – young people frequently don’t recognise the danger of the activities they are engaging in.

“We don’t tally up our success by how many young people we’ve incarcerated but if that’s a necessary strategy that we must invoke to keep the community safe then we will do that.”

Generic crime scene images showing Police tape. Crime Police Forensic. Pics Bill Hearne

He confirmed crime has increased in the Orana and Dubbo region, but also in Bourke, Moree, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Armidale, Orange and Cowra.

Over the past week there have been several arrests in northern NSW, including Armidale, Tamworth, Moree and Gunnedah.

Following an alleged armed robbery and pursuit in the Oxley and Hunter Valley regions on Tuesday night, police arrested a 16 and 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.

The 17-year-old driver was charged with robbery in company and driving recklessly causing a police pursuit while the two passengers were charged with robbery in company and being carried in a stolen vehicle.

All three were refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Wednesday.

In an unrelated incident an 18-year-old boy was charged with aggravated break and enter after he was taken to Moree Police Station.

The teen was refused bail to appear at Moree Local Court on Wednesday.

In another incident, a 16-year-old boy was arrested on Friday morning after he was allegedly riding a stolen motorbike with two passengers.

The boy was charged with driving recklessly, never having a license person drive a vehicle on the road, taking a vehicle without the consent of an owner, carrying a passenger without a helmet, using an unregistered vehicle on the road and a breach of bail.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court following his arrest.

Operation Regional Mongoose is expected to operate for several months, with a possibility of an extension.