Operation Soteria charges 17yo boy over violent Moree home invasion

A co-ordinated police assault is tackling the scourge of violent youth crimes being committed across regional NSW. On Wednesday a 17yo was charged over a violent home invasion at Moree.

NSW Police detectives have nabbed a teenager wanted over a violent home invasion in Moree last month, where a local doctor was punched in the nose and hit in the face with a dish drying rack.

The daylight arrest, witnessed by The Daily Telegraph, was part of the co-ordinated police assault on the scourge of violent crimes being committed across the state at the hands of our youth.

Officers attached to Operation Soteria surrounded the home the teen shares with his mother on Thursday morning, executing a search warrant for his arrest.

Investigators searched the suspect’s home then, acting on fresh intelligence, arrested him at his workplace a few streets away.

The 17-year-old was taken into custody and charged offences, including

two aggravated break, enter and commit serious indictable offences, two attempted aggravated break, enter and commit serious indictable offences, and one take and drive conveyance, relating to incidents at Moree on February 14 and Summer Hill on February 22.

NSW Police detectives arrest a 17-year-old over a violent home invasion at Moree where a couple were attacked and their cars stolen. Picture: Dylan Coker

At the same time, six hours drive away, another team of Operation Soteria detectives was hunting down an alleged co-accused over the attack.

The female was believed to have fled the Moree area after police released CCTV footage this week appealing for public information over the violent Valentine’s Day home invasion. A third suspect is already in custody on unrelated offences.

Dr Nadaraj Ramsamy was attacked during a break-in in Moree. Picture: Facebook

Police said they hoped the arrests and high-visibility operation at Moree this week – which will move on to other youth crime hot spots in coming weeks – would make teens think twice about committing violent crimes.

Police had appealed for help after the 58-year-old doctor and his wife, 56, were disturbed from sleep in their ­Anatole Drive home at 3.30am on February 14.

Paramedics treated the man for a broken nose, while the woman suffered minor injuries.

Police were told the wanted suspects entered the home by forcing entry through the front door then fled in two ­vehicles owned by the victims – a 2023 grey Mercedes and a 2011 brown Ford Territory.

About 30 minutes later, the Ford was recovered on the Newell Highway at Moree, while the Mercedes was found on Edwards St, Moree, at 4.15pm the same day.

Eighty officers have descended on Moree this week as part of Operation Soteria. Picture Dylan Coker

The arrests were a major focus of Operation Soteria this week, involving 60 dedicated and 20 supplementary officers being deployed to Moree from across the state to address the escalation of violence by teen offenders, some as young as 11, who have been breaking into homes armed with weapons, and stealing cars.

Other regional youth crime hotspots to be targeted by Operation Soteria include Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree, and Newcastle.

Those communities can expect to see tactical response officers, highway patrol, detectives and youth liaison officers bolster local crews over the next three months.

Police are also monitoring social media to identify kids who “post and boast” about crimes online.

While ringleaders and reoffenders will be a major focus of the police operation, those on the periphery will be diverted to youth support services.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said the blitz would target a cohort of about 100 repeat offenders believed to be responsible for 90 per cent of youth crime offences across regional NSW.

“Part of this mission is to lock up the ringleaders and divert others away from a life of crime,” Mr Pisanos said.

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