A man has been charged over allegedly breaking into and stealing equipment from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) stations across the Tamworth area.
Officers from Oxley Police District commenced an investigation, following reports RFS stations in Tamworth, Duri and Loomberah had been broken into last year.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators executed a search warrant on a residence on Margaret Street, South Tamworth, at 5pm Friday (19 May 2023).
During the search, police located and seized several pieces of firefighting equipment.
A short time later, officers arrested an 18-year-old man during a traffic stop in Tamworth.
During a search of the vehicle, police seized housebreaking implements and a siren.
The man was taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with break and enter house and steal, larceny, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, possess housebreaking implements, and goods in custody suspected of being stolen in/on premises.
Police will allege in court that the man, who is a volunteer firefighter, broke in to the station and stole equipment.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Tamworth Local Court on Monday 5 June 2023.
Inquiries are continuing.
