Two people have been charged following an alleged vehicle theft and arson in the state's Central Tablelands this week.
About 3.15pm on Monday 31 August 2026, officers attached to Chifley Police District were called to a residence on Mort Street, Lithgow, following reports a vehicle had allegedly been stolen.
Police arrived and were told a Holden utility had allegedly been stolen from the address sometime between 2.45pm and 3.15pm the same day.
Officers were also informed the vehicle had crashed into the rear fence of a residence on Reid Avenue, Lithgow shortly after.
About 9am the following day (Tuesday 1 September 2026), emergency services were called to Hassans Walls Road, Lithgow, following reports of a car fire.
Police arrived on scene and NSW Rural Fire Service extinguished the flames; however, the Holden utility was destroyed.
The vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
About 4.15pm the same day, police spoke to a 14-year-old boy at Lithgow Police Station who was dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
Following inquiries, about 9am yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2026), police executed a search warrant at a home in Lithgow where several items were seized.
After further inquiries, officers attended a home in Wallerawang shortly after where they arrested an 18-year-old man after a brief foot pursuit. He was taken to Lithgow Police Station.
About 11am the same day, police arrested a different 14-year-old boy at another home in Wallerawang. He was also taken to Lithgow Police Station.
The 18-year-old was charged with four offences,
- Steal motor vehicle
- Learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester
- Damage property by fire/explosives, and
- Destroy or damage property.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Lithgow Local Court on Thursday 8 October 2026.
The 14-year-old was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and was granted strict conditional bail to face a children's court on Friday 9 October 2026.
