Wellington: Teen arrested over Bourke motel raid posted on Snapchat

Specialist police have dramatically arrested a teenager over the armed raid of a bush motel, which went viral after vision of masked men armed with knives was posted to social media.

A still from the video of the alleged armed invasion of a Bourke motel room.

Specialist police hunting a gang who allegedly threatened horrified motel guests with knives during a series of armed break and enters have dramatically arrested a teenager more than 400km away.

Vision of the February 22 break-in at a Bourke motel caused widespread community anger after it was posted on Snapchat, accompanied by a song by slain rapper Tupac Shakur.

Police will allege the group filmed themselves forcing their way into staff accommodation at a Bourke motel, armed with long knives, and threatening a 24-year-old man before stealing cash, bank cards and a mobile phone.

“The group then allegedly broke into a second motel room and threatened the occupant – a 52-year-old man – with long knives, before fleeing with cash, bank cards and a mobile phone,” police said in a statement.

“The man sustained a minor cut to his neck.

The man was allegedly threatened with a knife during the armed raid.

“Police were told the group allegedly crashed through a locked gate in a white Holden SUV before driving off.”

The home invasion – and a series of other break and enters and vehicle thefts over a four-day crime spree across towns including Bourke and Nyngan – sparked an investigation by Central North police and helped prompt the formation of Operation Soteria and its rapid response units to tackle youth crime across regional NSW.

The vision went viral.

The investigation led officers to raid a home at Wellington, more than 400km from the Bourke motel, on Tuesday morning.

Officers attached to Central North Police District and Orana Mid-Western Police District, assisted by Western Region Operational Support Group officers, executed a search warrant at a home on Parkes Street about 7.30am.

“Police arrested an 18-year-old man and seized clothing, four knives, a set of knuckledusters, and multiple items of jewellery believed to be stolen,” police said in the statement.

The teenager was taken to Wellington Police Station and charged with four counts of aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence while armed, two counts of stealing a motor vehicle and one count each of larceny and possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

The teen was refused bail when he faced Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

He was refused bail to face Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, when he was remanded in custody to appear again on May 22.

Investigations were continuing.

Originally published as Wellington: Teen arrested over Bourke motel raid posted on Snapchat