Three men have been charged over an alleged break and enter on the state's Far South Coast earlier this week.
Shortly after 3.30am on Monday (22 August 2022), police have been told three males – who had their faces covered and were allegedly armed with knives and a baseball bat – entered a home on Tathra-Bermagui Road, Mogareeka, just north of Tathra, and tied a 64-year-old woman to a chair.
It will be alleged the trio demanded cash and ransacked the home, before fleeing with jewellery and electronic goods.
The woman was able to free herself and neighbours contacted police about 6.30am. She was not physically injured.
Officers attached to South Coast Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, police executed simultaneous search warrants at a home on Howard Avenue, Bega, as well as a caravan located at the Bega Showground, about 6pm yesterday (Thursday 25 August 2022).
A 19-year-old man was arrested at the home and a 42-year-old man was arrested at the caravan.
During subsequent searches, police located and seized a replica handgun, more than 2.5kg of cannabis, electronic items, jewellery and other items relevant to the investigation.
All seized items will undergo further forensic examination.
About the same time, a 30-year-old man was arrested at a home on Herganhans Lane, Angledale.
All three men were taken to Bega Police Station and charged with:
- Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence – serious indictable offence,
- Robbery armed with offensive weapon – serious indictable offence,
- Armed with intent commit indictable offence,
- Take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage – serious indictable offence, and,
- Common assault.
Additionally, the 19-year-old man was charged with possess prohibited drug, while the 42-year-old man was charged with three further offences, including;
- Resist officer in execution of duty,
- Possess unauthorised pistol, and,
- Possess prohibited drug.
All three have been refused bail to appear in Bega Local Court today (Friday 26 August 2022).
