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Two men have been charged with several robbery and arson offences following a four-month investigation in the Hunter Valley.
In October 2021, rural crime investigators attached to the Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Carribee to investigate a number of alleged arson and property offences which occurred in the Singleton and surrounding areas.
Incidents of note include:
- On Thursday 2 September 2021, two computer terminals were allegedly damaged by rocks in Glennies Creek, before a structure on Middle Falbrook Road, two hay bales and two residential garbage bins were all destroyed by fire.
- On Friday 17 September 2021, three firearms were stolen from a rural property at Putty Road, Milbrodale.
- On Saturday 25 December 2021, a tractor was located burnt out in a paddock on Tilpa-Tonga Road, Tilpa.
- On Wednesday 19 January 2022, machinery and other equipment was stolen from a work site on Goorangoola Road, Goorangoola. An excavator and diesel petrol were also stolen from the same site on Saturday 29 January 2022.
- On 3 February 2022, two firearms were stolen from a rural property on Old Carrowbrook Road, Mount Olive.
- Just before midnight on Wednesday 16 February 2022, two armed men entered a service station on Bridgman Road, Dunolly, and allegedly threatened a female attendant. The employee handed over a sum of cash before both men ran from the store.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives attended a workplace in Muswellbrook about 9am yesterday (Sunday 20 February 2022) and arrested a 19-year-old man. Officers also seized a white Toyota Hilux for forensic examination.
A second 19-year-old man attended Singleton Police Station a short time later, where he was arrested.
Hunter Valley police – with the assistance of Hunter Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Operation Utah officers – then executed two search warrants at properties in Bridgman and Muswellbrook, where a machete and other items were seized.
Following further inquiries, officers attended an area of bushland in Bridgman where they located and seized five firearms hidden in PVC piping.
Both men were charged with several offences, including robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon, destroy property in company by fire, malicious damage, break, enter and steal, trespass, larceny and possess unauthorised firearm.
They were refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today (Monday 21 February 2022), where they were formally bail refused to next appear at Singleton Local Court on Thursday 28 April 2022.
Investigations under Strike Force Carribee are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
