A newly established police unit will focus on tackling technology enabled crime in the Lake Illawarra area.
The Technology Enabled Crime Unit, comprised of officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District, was designed to target crimes where offenders utilise technology to commit the crime, conceal their identity or exchange goods.
Lake Illawarra Police District Acting Inspector Matt Brophey said the unit will focus its efforts on a broad range of technology-enabled crimes and fraud-related offences.
"The offences we are targeting range from selling stolen goods in an online marketplace, to unauthorised access to funds through pay wave frauds," Acting Inspector Matt Brophey said.
"We take all forms of crime very seriously and having a dedicated unit that is ready and able to react to technology-enabled crime in a short time frame will have a positive impact on our crime rates.
"We've already seen some great results in the past month and rest assured we plan on keeping the momentum going."
Since its inception last month, 28 arrests have been made, over 100 charges laid and more than $100,000 worth of stolen goods have been recovered.
- On Tuesday 10 September a woman lost her wallet in the Warilla area. The following morning three unauthorised transactions were conducted at stores around Warilla. An investigation commenced, and a 38-year-old man was arrested at his home, before being charged with three counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception. He is due to face Port Kembla Local Court on 23 October 2019.
- On Saturday 6 April a 21-year-old man allegedly committed a break and enter upon a house in Lake Illawarra. The following morning the offender allegedly conducted two unauthorised pay wave transactions. An investigation commenced and the 21-year-old man was charged with aggravated break and enter, stealing and two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception.
- On Monday 23 September a 29-year-old man attended a car dealership in Oak Flats and used a fraudulent method to allegedly purchase a car. An investigation commenced, the car was recovered and the man was arrested. He is due to face Wollongong Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 16 October 2019).
- On Friday 27 September a 37-year-old Mangerton man allegedly committed a break and enter upon a house in Kiama. Police allege three people – a 37-year-old man, a 30-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman conducted six unauthorised transactions around Kiama later that day. Officers attached to the Technology Enabled Crime Unit executed a search warrant at the woman's house and located several items believed to be stolen.
The 37-year-old man was charged with aggravated break and enter and dishonestly obtain property by deception.
- The 30-year-old man was charged with six counts of dishonestly obtain by deception, take and drive conveyance, possess prohibited drug and shoplifting.
- The 30-year-old woman was charged with dishonestly obtain property by deception and deal with proceeds of crime.
- On Sunday 6 October property was stolen from a motor vehicle in Kanahooka. Police allege a 26-year-old man conducted numerous pay wave transactions across Albion Park and Dapto. The man was arrested and charged with breach of bail and seven counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception.
