Three males have been charged following an extensive investigation under Operation Soteria into alleged property offences on the North Coast.
In December 2025, police commenced an investigation into several break and enter offences across the Coffs/Clarence, Richmond and Tweed/Byron Police Districts where vehicles were stolen.
Inquiries suggested the incidents were linked, and the matters were referred to Operation Soteria for further investigation with the assistance of General Duties Police, Proactive Crime Teams, and Police Rescue.
About 2.15am yesterday (Thursday 22 January 2026), police attempted to stop an allegedly stolen vehicle at Sapphire Beach, near Coffs Harbour.
As police approached the vehicle on foot, the driver allegedly drove towards an officer who was forced to take evasive action.
Police pursued the vehicle along the M1 Motorway before the pursuit was terminated due to the manner of driving. The vehicle was later located abandoned at Yamba.
About 1pm yesterday, police attended an address at Coraki where three males – aged 13, 17 and 18 – were arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station.
The 13 and 18-year-old males were each charged with 14 offences,
- Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal (four counts)
- Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner (four counts)
- Larceny (two counts)
- Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence
- Enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence
- Destroy or damage property, and
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
The 13-year-old was refused bail to appear before a children's court today (Friday 23 January 2026), where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before the same court on Wednesday 22 April 2026.
The 18-year-old was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 1 today (Friday 23 January 2026), where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
The 17-year-old was charged with 16 offences,
- Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal (four counts)
- Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner (four counts)
- Larceny (two counts)
- Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence
- Enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence
- Destroy or damage property
- Police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly
- Never licensed person drive vehicle on road, and
- Use etc offensive weapon to prevent police investigation.
He was refused bail to appear before a children's court today (Friday 23 January 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Friday 30 January 2026.
Since Thursday 1 January 2026, a total of 26 individuals have been arrested under Operation Soteria on the NSW North Coast.
The 26 individuals have been charged with a combined 133 offences. All remain before the courts.
Inquiries under Operation Soteria are continuing.
