Taree break and enter spree, man arrested with allegedly stolen goods

A man allegedly had hundreds of items of jewellery on him when he was picked up by police amid what a magistrate has described as a plague of break and enters.

A man was picked up by police with watches and jewellery allegedly in his possession in Taree.

A Taree man picked up by police allegedly had 300 items of jewellery on him at the time.

Darren Ritchie appeared before Taree Local Court on Wednesday, March 15, charged with having goods in his personal custody suspected of being stolen.

The 20-year-old pleaded not guilty and his lawyer argued he should be granted bail.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins told the court that the Taree community is currently “plagued with break and enters” and that she wanted to send a strong message to people who are “doing it and supporting it by helping to dispose of goods”.

Ms Hawkins denied bail and adjourned the matter to April 19.

According to police documents tendered to court Ritchie was picked up on Tuesday, March 14 between 3.10 and 3.20pm and was allegedly found to have 300 pieces of jewellery in addition to cards and keys suspected of being stolen.

“Given the quantity and types of items, the investigation is continuing and further offences may be identified,” Manning Great Lakes Police District crime manager Rod Blackman said.