A man has been charged as part of investigations into allegedly stolen items – including a vehicle, rifle, drivers' licences, and an excavator – in the state's north-west.
On Tuesday 22 November 2022, officers from Oxley Police District were notified that a man was attempted to pawn an allegedly stolen rifle in Tamworth.
Police will allege the rifle had been stolen from a shed in Quirindi on Sunday 20 November 2022.
About a month later, officers from Oxley Police District were called to Francis Street, Narrabri, after a Mitsubishi Triton utility was allegedly stolen between 4am and 5.40am on Monday (19 December 2022).
It will be alleged in court that the stolen Mitsubishi was then used to steal an excavator and trailer from a property in Willow Tree just before 9am on Wednesday (21 December 2022).
Following inquiries, investigators attended a home in Kuurrara Street, Werris Creek, and spoke to a 27-year-old man yesterday (Thursday 22 December 2022).
Officer executed a search warrant at the property, where they located two allegedly stolen driver's licences, a stolen debit card, and a Mitsubishi Triton utility.
These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
The man was arrested at the scene and taken to Werris Creek Police Station, where he was charged with 14 offences, including:
- drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
- drive motor vehicle while licence suspended
- use class A vehicle with unauthorised number plate affixed
- use unregistered registrable Class C motor vehicle on road
- fail to comply with request or signal to stop vehicle
- possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance
- six counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, and
- two outstanding warrants for traffic offences.
He was refused bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court today (Friday 23 December 2022).
Investigations are continuing.
