Two people will face court charged following an investigation into a house fire, and the alleged theft of firearms and property in the state's north earlier this month.
On Saturday 14 August 2021, emergency services were called to a property on the Gwydir Highway, Bullarah, following reports of a house fire.
Officers from New England Police District and Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found a house well alight.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, however the house, which was not occupied, was completely destroyed.
A crime scene was established, and police commenced an investigation into the cause of the fire, which was treated as suspicious.
Following an investigation, police established a number of firearms, approximately 4000 rounds of ammunition and two motor vehicles had been stolen from the property, before the house was allegedly set on fire.
After further inquiries, a police operation was conducted in a carpark off Roslyn Lane, Moree, about 1pm yesterday (22 August 2021), where a man and a woman were arrested and taken to Moree Police Station.
The man – aged 20 – was charged with a number of break & enter and firearms offences (including supplying a prohibited firearm), as well as damage property by fire.
The woman – aged 18 - was charged with supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person (x 2), supply, give ammunition to person not authorised and receive/dispose stolen property.
Both were refused bail to appear at Moree Local Court today (Monday 23 August 2021).
During the investigation, police recovered 14 firearms, a large amount of ammunition and an alleged stolen Quad bike.
Following further inquiries, about 9am today (Monday 23 August 2021), detectives from Moree executed a search warrant at a house in Brand Street, Moree, where they seized a number of items.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
