Five youths are due before a children's court tomorrow charged after a number of alleged aggravated break and enters and police pursuits in and around Moree overnight.
Local police, working with officers attached to New England Proactive Crime Team and the Police Dog Unit, responded to a number of incidents last night (Friday 29 September 2023), and this morning (Saturday 30 September 2023).
Following inquiries under Operation Regional Mongoose, five teenagers – aged between 14 and 17 – were arrested, and all have now been charged with a range of offences.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – people there, and breach of bail, in relation to the overnight incidents.
The boy has also been charged with one count of aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – armed in relation after a man was allegedly threatened by a person armed with a knife in his home in Wellington on 24 September 2023. The boy was also charged with an outstanding arrest warrant for seven charges in relation to an incident at Moree on 24 September,
• Aggravated robbery (two counts)
• Demand property by force in company with intent to steal
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner
• Destroy/damage property in company
• Steal motor vehicle, and
• Destroy etc property in company use fire.
Three girls, aged 14, 16 and 17, have each been charged with steal motor vehicle, and intentionally throw object at vehicle – risk safety, as well as breach of bail; while a 14-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – people there.
All five have been refused bail to appear before a children's court tomorrow (Sunday 1 October 2023).
Operation Regional Mongoose is a high-visibility police operation to tackle serious property-related crime committed predominately by youths. Inquiries are continuing.
