NSW bush crime crisis: Operation Mongoose police arrest 140 youths

Hundreds of people have been charged as police tackle the surge in stabbings, carjackings and home robberies across regional NSW, with the vast majority of those arrested being youths.

Hundreds of people have been charged as police tackle the surge in stabbings, carjackings and home robberies across regional NSW, with 72 per cent of those arrested being youths.

Police answered the state’s growing youth crime problem by forming Operation Regional Mongoose, which led to teams of police descending on country towns where children as young as 10-years-old have been reported arming themselves with knives and breaking into homes to steal cars.

Operational Regional Mongoose has arrested 192 people in the state’s west since last September — 140 of them were children.

More than 1617 charges have come from the arrests, of those 275 were for breach of bail.

The operation focused on NSW country towns including Dubbo, Tamworth, Moree, Orange, Gunnedah and Bourke.

Operation Regional Mongoose police in Moree conducting a search warrant. Picture: David Swift

An arrest being made during operation Mongoose.

The Daily Telegraph was in Moree last month as Operation Regional Mongoose rolled into town. It’s also where Premier Chris Minns last week announced bail accommodation funding specifically for the town.

Premier Minns also recently announced Project Pathfinder with the support of rugby league superstars including Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. The new project offers at-risk youths one-on-one mentorships with NRL stars, sports clinics and trips to Sydney with training and matches.

South Sydney stars Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell were in Moree last month. Picture: Richard Dobson

Latrell Mitchell told The Telegraph he wants to “better [other] lives” after his NRL career. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Speaking to the youth crime crisis overtaking regional towns, Assistant Commissioner Rod Smith said the elderly are often targeted by opportunist youths.

“We have seen in several cases that elderly and vulnerable people are being targeted, with no hesitation to inflict or threaten violence on victims,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

“We will continue to take steps to keep our communities safe, we will continue to arrest and charge serious offenders, both youths and adults, and put them before the courts.”

Police patrolling Moree.

The NSW Police riot squad was required to be called into Moree recently.

“The Youth Command supports local police districts through many prevention and diversionary programs across the region of Western NSW.

“These programs engage with a significant number of young people throughout the region, drawing them away from boredom and the environment that often leads to offending.

“We are seeing great success and support from local communities in these programs, and it is critical that we continue to target serious offenders, as well as provide diversionary opportunities for potential offenders,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

Investigations under Operation Regional Mongoose continue.

Anyone with information about Operation Regional Mongoose is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000

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