A teenager has been charged following an investigation into two break and enter incidents that occurred in the state's west last month.
Operation Soteria is a strategic initiative focusing on aggravated break, enter and steal offences, stealing motor vehicles, and 'post and boast' offences where social media is used to gain notoriety.
About 3am on Tuesday 19 August 2025, emergency services were called to a motel on Warialda Street, Moree, following reports of two break-ins.
Officers attached to New England Police District were told two people – one allegedly armed with a metal object – forced entry into one room which was occupied by a 68-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman.
The 68-year-old man was allegedly threatened before being assaulted with the metal object and sustained significant head injuries – the woman was uninjured.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
The pair left and forced entry into a second room occupied by a 31-year-old man – where they allegedly threatened and demanded his keys before leaving the scene in his Toyota SUV.
The man was uninjured.
A crime scene was established, and investigations commenced under Operation Soteria.
About 4.40am the same day, police were patrolling and sighted the SUV driving dangerously and attempted to stop it on Balo Street, Moree.
When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated; however, police lost sight of the SUV and terminated the pursuit.
About 5.10am, the SUV was located abandoned on Auburn Street, Moree and seized for forensic examination.
Following inquiries, at 12pm today (Tuesday 2 September 2025) investigators attached to Operation Soteria, along with officers from New England Police District, attended an address on Brand Street, Moree, and arrested a 16-year-old boy.
He was taken to Moree Police Station and charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence (Wound), take and drive conveyance and aggravated break enter and steal.
The teen was refused bail and appeared before Children's Court today (Tuesday 2 September 2025) where he was again refused bail to appear before Children's Court again on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
Investigations under Operation Soteria continue.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
