Three people have been charged after an excavator and ATM were allegedly stolen in the state's south.
On Monday 1 September 2025, Rural Crime Investigators attached to Southern Zone Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced investigations after a Caterpillar-brand front-end loader excavator and grapple hitch were stolen from a quarry on Federal Highway, Sutton.
Following inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a property on Dicks Creek Road, Yass River, on Wednesday 3 September 2025, with police allegedly locating the excavator and grapple and hitch attachments as well as ammunition and a gel blaster.
The excavator and attachments are valued at $150,000.
Investigations continued and last Monday (29 September 2025), detectives attached to South Coast Police District, with the assistance of Southern Zone Rural Crime Team, commenced a separate investigation following the alleged theft of an ATM from a business on Beach Road, Batemans Bay, just before 5am.
About 6am, police attended Princes Hwy, Cullendulla, and spoke to two men – aged 27 and 36 – before the younger man allegedly ran from police.
Following an extensive search and foot pursuit, the man was apprehended on Myamba Parade, Surfside, with both men arrested and taken to Batemans Bay Police Station.
A 28-year-old woman – who police will allege assisted the younger man evade police – was stopped and arrested on Wallarah Street and was also taken to Batemans Bay Police Station.
A subsequent search was conducted on the men and woman with police allegedly seizing $59,000 cash.
Police will also allege the men were involved in the break and enter at the Sutton Quarry.
The 36-year-old man was charged with 15 offences,
- Destroy or damage property (two counts)
- Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse
- Steal motor vehicle
- Larceny value greater than $15000 (two counts)
- Dishonestly interfere/copy unique identifier
- Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty
- Goods suspected stolen in/on premises (two counts)
- Goods suspected stolen in/on premises (motor vehicle)
- Owner not disclose identity of driver/passenger
- Destroy etc property in company use fire etc greater than $5000
- Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, and
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
He was refused to appear before Bail Division - Court 6 yesterday (Wednesday 1 October 2025), where he was formally refused to appear before Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 1 December 2025.
The 27-year-old man was charged with eight offences,
- Possess unauthorised firearm
- Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority
- Possess prohibited drug (two counts)
- Destroy etc property in company use fire etc greater than $5000
- Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and
- Hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division - Court 7 yesterday (Wednesday 1 October 2025), where he was formally refused to appear before Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 24 November 2025.
The 28-year-old woman was charged with two offences,
- Receive/dispose stolen property-minimum indictable offence greater than $5000, and
- Recklessly deal with proceeds of crime greater than $5000.
She was granted conditional bail to appear before Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday 20 October 2025.
