Trey Elwood: Bourke man charged over alleged crime spree

A 20-year-old man who police allege robbed a couple in their 80s, stole five cars and broke into homes while residents were sleeping, has fronted court.

Police have charged a 20-year-old Bourke man with 29 offences after he was alleged to have embarked on an extensive crime spree which terrified residents across western NSW.

Trey Elwood was charged with seven counts of aggravated break and enter, six counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and various robbery offences which allegedly took place between September 20 and October 12.

Bourke man Trey Elwood was charged over a series of alleged break ins in western NSW. Picture: NSW Police/Facebook

He entered no pleas and did not apply for bail during a brief appearance in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, following his dramatic arrest near Narromine on Tuesday.

In court documents police allege Mr Elwood first stole a Ford Courier some time during the night between September 20 and September 21 when it was driven to Trangie and a caravan park was broken into.

A man staying at the park was allegedly robbed by Mr Elwood who was allegedly armed with a knife and got away with a $900 camera and a wallet which belonged to the man.

On September 22 Mr Elwood allegedly stole a Mazda Bravo in Dubbo and when police caught up with him, Mr Elwood allegedly drove off dangerously and triggered a pursuit.

Police allege Mr Elwood next broke into a woman’s Dubbo home on the night of September 25 when her cash, car keys and black Guess purse were stolen.

According to court documents, Mr Elwood has been accused of breaking into another home on September 26 at Fairview Street where he stole a man’s Hyundai i30.

Trangie Caravan Park was allegedly targeted. Picture: Facebook/Trangie Caravan Park

On the morning of October 2 police allege Mr Elwood broke into a home on Lincoln Parkway while the occupants were sleeping. He allegedly got away with a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Between 3am and 5am on October 9 Mr Elwood was accused of breaking into a home on Tamworth Street while a couple in their 80s were sleeping.

Police allege that when the couple woke to find Mr Elwood and other unknown persons in their home, they were threatened with secateurs and Mr Elwood got away with their Ford Fairlane.

According to court documents, police tried to catch Mr Elwood on the night of October 9, but he was riding an unregistered dirt bike and the pursuit had to be terminated for safety reasons.

About 2:30am on October 12 Mr Elwood is alleged to have stolen a Holden Colorado from a Linda Drive property in Dubbo.

The same morning, at about 9am, police allege the owner of a property on Backwater Road at Narromine caught Mr Elwood, Dubbo man Joel McKellar, 23, and a 17-year-old boy ransacking a home.

In a statement police said one of the men allegedly pulled out a rifle to demand money and threaten the property owner at gunpoint.

Supplied Editorial Dubbo courthouse. Picture: Ryan Young

The owner, who was uninjured during the traumatic ordeal, fled to a room inside the home and a gunshot was allegedly fired into the room through the door before the trio fled the scene in the Holden stolen from Linda Drive.

Police quickly went after the trio, but a pursuit had to be terminated due to safety concerns and the trio allegedly drove to Warren where another pursuit was initiated and terminated for the same reason.

After the trio allegedly returned to Narromine, police said they found the stolen Holden abandoned and chased Mr McKellar and the 17-year-old through a golf course where they were later arrested.

Mr Elwood was arrested a short time later on a property near the Mitchell Highway.

Magistrate Gary Wilson adjourned his case to a date in December, which is when Mr McKellar’s case will also return to court.

Like Mr Elwood, Mr McKellar did not apply for bail when he fronted court charged with six offences including robbery with dangerous weapon, aggravated break and enter and being carried in stolen conveyance.

Mr McKellar did not enter pleas.

The 17-year-old boy fronted a Children’s Court which was closed to the public and media outlets. Details of his identity and charges cannot be reported because of his age.