A teenager will appear in court today, one of two people charged with property offences on the Mid North Coast under Operation Soteria.
Officers from Manning/Great Lakes Police District have been conducting an investigation into a number of serious break and enter offences committed in the district between February and March 2025.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators attended a Mid North Coast correctional facility yesterday (Thursday 15 May 2025) and charged a 20-year-old man with 11 counts of aggravated break and enter, steal motor vehicle, two counts of take and drive conveyance, five counts of be carried on conveyance, and break and enter and record intimate images without consent.
He was remanded in custody and will appear at Taree Local Court on Tuesday 27 May 2025.
In a separate incident, about 1am today (Friday 16 May 2025) officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District were patrolling the Pacific Highway at Yamba, when they observed a Cupra – reportedly stolen during a break-in at a Grafton home on Wednesday) – travelling south.
The Cupra failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated at Big River Way, Cowper with road spikes successfully deployed.
The vehicle entered residential area at South Grafton and came to a stop on Maxwell Avenue and the three occupants fled.
The driver, a 14-year-old boy, was arrested after a short foot pursuit, allegedly resisting officers.
He was taken to Grafton Police Station and charged with police pursuit, drive conveyance without consent of owner, possess means of disguising face, possess prohibited drug, hinder/resist officers in execution of duty and breach of bail.
The teen has been bail refused to appear at a children's court today (Friday 16 May 2025).
Inquiries continue to identify and locate the passengers.
