A man has been charged following an investigation into an alleged home invasion and an aggravated break and enter in the state's Central Tablelands.
Just after 7am on Saturday 14 November 2020, a man attended a rural property on Rockley Road, Rockley Mount, south of Bathurst, and asked the 82-year-old resident to use his phone.
Police were told that while the man was using the phone, a second man – armed with a knife and with his face covered – appeared.
It is alleged the pair threatened the resident and ransacked his home, stealing financial documents and a pump action rifle, before leaving the scene in a vehicle.
The man was shaken but not physically injured during the incident.
In a separate incident, police received reports of an aggravated break enter at a rural property on Lagoon Road, Orton Park, on Monday 16 November 2020.
Police were told a large amount of property – including vehicles, jewellery, wine and cash – was stolen, sometime between Saturday 14 and Monday 16 November 2020.
Detectives from the Chifley Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced inquiries into the two matters.
Following inquiries, Rural Crime Investigators arrested a 35-year-old man at a home on Currawong Street, Bathurst, about 2am yesterday (Wednesday 23 December 2020).
He was taken to Bathurst Police Station and charged with assault with intent to rob armed with offensive weapon, aggravated break and enter with intent – armed, and break and enter house steal value – more than $60,000.
The man appeared before Bathurst Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Monday 8 March 2021.
Investigations continue.
State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said the public is encouraged to look out for each other during this festive season and into the future.
"This crime stresses the vulnerability of our farmers and the need for our rural communities to work together to ensure not only themselves, but their neighbours are safe," Det C/Insp Whiteside said.
"There is no greater time than now to rethink the security of our farms and firearms, making it that bit harder for criminals to prey on our landholders."
