Fifteen people have been charged following a three-day high-visibility surge operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in the state's central west.
In conjunction with the high-visibility surge operation, police attached to Operation Soteria, the Western Region Operational Support Group, Western Region Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team and Youth Command conducted bail compliance and home engagement visits on known Soteria youth and youth command continued with positive engagements with known Soteria youth and their families.
The operation was conducted from Wednesday 8 April to Friday 10 April 2026, and targeted and reduced crime in the Orange area.
Across the operation, officers conducted 50 bail compliance and apprehended domestic violence checks, ten person searches, two search warrants and seized four firearms.
Significant incidents included,
- About 4.00pm on Wednesday 8 April 2026, a 34-year-old man – wanted for three outstanding warrants for aggravated break enter and steal and traffic offences – was arrested on Lawson Close, Orange. He was charged with the outstanding warrants and appeared at Orange Local Court on Thursday 9 April 2026. He remains bail refused, and will next appear before the same Court on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
- About 9.50am on Wednesday 8 April 2026, a 17-year-old boy was arrested at a house on Currong Street, Orange. He was taken to Orange police station where he was charged with three offences - drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, drive recklessly in a manner dangerous and learner unaccompanied. He was granted conditional bail to appear before a childrens court on Monday 4 May 2026.
- About 4.00pm on Friday 10 April 2026, a 65-year-old man was arrested at March, north of Orange. He was taken to Orange police station where he was charged with 15 offences - possess unauthorised firearm (four counts), possess more than three unregistered firearms, supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, cultivate prohibited plant, not keep firearm safe (four counts), possess ammunition without a licence, possess explosive for unlawful use and possess a prohibited weapon. He was granted conditional bail, to appear at Orange Local Court on Thursday 30 April 2026.
- About 6.30pm on Friday 10 April 2026, police arrested a 21-year-old at a house in Scarborough Street, Orange. He was taken to Orange police station where he was charged with eight offences - possess loaded firearm in a public place, fire firearm in public place, possess or discharge firearm in forestry area, supply prohibited drug (two counts), possess prohibited drug (two counts) and contravene prohibition in Domestic AVO. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division – Court 4 today (Saturday 11 April 2026).
Anyone with information about region-based crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
