Police in the state's western region have charged 96 people since the launch of Operation Regional Mongoose.
The ongoing high-visibility operation commenced on Wednesday 27 September 2023, to tackle serious property-related crime committed predominately by young offenders.
To date the operation has resulted in 96 people – including 73 juveniles – charged with more than 159 offences, of those 53 were for breach of bail.
Incidents of note:
- Police attached the Chifley Police District commenced an investigation into reports of break-ins in Orange and Bathurst between 6pm on Friday 20 October 2023 and 6am on Saturday 21 October 2023. Following inquiries, police attended a correctional facility about 9.30pm on Saturday 21 October 2023 and issued a 15-year-old a court attendance notice for two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, and dishonestly obtain property by deception. He will appear at a children's court on Wednesday 13 December 2023.
- Officers attached to Chifley Police District commenced an investigation following a report of a break-in at a home on Pridham Street, Cowra, between 4pm on Tuesday 17 October 2023 and 9.30am on Wednesday 18 October 2023. Following inquiries, about 8am on Monday 23 October 2023, police attended a home in Cowra and arrested a 15-year-old boy. He was taken to Cowra Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intend steal, destroy/damage property in company and destroy property in company use fire. He was given conditional bail to appear at children's court on Monday 27 November 2023.
Following further inquiries, about 4.35pm on the same day, police attended a correctional facility in Dubbo and arrested a 14-year-old boy. He was taken to Dubbo Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intend steal, destroy/damage property in company and destroy property in company use fire. He was refused bail to appear at a children's court on Monday 24 October 2023, where he was given conditional bail to appear at a children's on Wednesday 8 November 2023.
- About 12.25pm on Friday (27 October 2023), officers attached to Central West Police District executed a search warrant at a home in Orange following an investigation into multiple break-ins and stolen cars in Orange, Millthorpe and Orange. A 14-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Orange Police Station.
He was charged with use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road, use uninsured motor vehicle on road, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, rider without helmet ride with 1 passenger without helmet, four counts of enter building/land with intent commit indictable offence, two counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, two counts aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, and dishonestly obtain property by deception.
The boy was refused bail and appeared at a children's court on Saturday (28 October 2023), where he was formerly refused bail to reappear at another children's court on Thursday 2 November 2023.
Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree APM said police are seeing pleasing results from the operation as they continue to work with the community.
"It has greatly strengthened our stakeholder engagement, focusing on crime prevention and diversionary strategies, which has ultimately enhanced community safety and awareness," said Assistant Commissioner Greentree APM.
"We will continue to work to empower youth to make the right decisions, however, there needs to be a concerted, societal effort to instil a sense of belonging and purpose to enable at-risk young individuals to reach their full potential.
"This could mean encouraging kids into activities such as work, school, community or sport.
Investigations under Operation Regional Mongoose continue.
Anyone with information about Operation Regional Mongoose is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
