A man has been charged with multiple alleged offences following an investigation into two stolen saddles in the state's north.
About 2.40pm on Monday 5 January 2026, police responded to reports of a man attempting to sell suspicious items to a business at Victoria Street, Taree.
Officers attached to Manning Great Lakes Police District's Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced an investigation and established two distinctive saddles had been reported stolen from an address in Goulburn between Sunday 16 November and Monday 17 November 2025.
Further inquiries determined these were the same saddles allegedly being sold to the business.
Police attended the business and arrested a 34-year-old man.
Following inquiries, the vehicle was found to have allegedly been stolen from an address in Yass on Wednesday 24 December 2025, and during a subsequent search of his vehicle, officers allegedly located and seized a crowbar, ammunition, and a hunting knife.
The man was taken to Taree Police Station where he was charged with 12 offences:
- Attempt dispose property-theft equals serious indictable greater than $5000
- Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty
- Possess prohibited drug
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle)
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity
- Use class A vehicle displaying misleading etc
- Possess housebreaking implements
- Custody of knife in public place
- Possess ammunition w/o holding licence/permit/authority
- Break and enter house etc steal value greater than $60,000
- Police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, and
- Unlawfully possess thing resembles etc number.
The man was refused bail to appear at Bail Division – Court 1 on Tuesday 6 January 2026, where he was further refused bail to reappear at Taree Local Court on Monday 9 February 2026.
