PLEASE NOTE: Vision of the 19-year-old man’s arrest can be found via Hightail
Police have charged four people following an alleged aggravated break and enter at a home in the Illawarra, as part of Operation Regional Mongoose.
Operation Regional Mongoose is a high-visibility police operation to tackle serious property-related crime committed predominately by young offenders.
In June 2024, Operation Regional Mongoose was established in the Illawarra to investigate offenders across the Wollongong and Lake Illawarra Police Districts, with assistance from the Region Enforcement Squad.
About 2.30am on Wednesday 3 July 2024, police will allege a group of young people travelled from Sydney and allegedly broke into a home in Boyce Avenue, Austinmer.
They entered the bedroom of a 50-year-old man and 49-year-old woman and threatened the woman with a knife, demanding car keys to a vehicle.
The man challenged the group, before they fled from the premises allegedly stealing a phone and headphones.
Two children, aged 12 and 17, were also home at the time, but were uninjured.
Officers attached to Wollongong Police District responded and established a crime scene.
An investigation was launched by officers attached to Operation Regional Mongoose
Following extensive inquiries, about 7.45am today (Thursday 8 August 2024), officers attached to Regional Mongoose, with assistant from officers attached to the Southern Operation Support Group, Southern Region Enforcement Squad, State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad, South West Metropolitan Police Area Command, Strike Force Sweetenham, State Crime Command Financial Crimes and the Dog Unit executed three simultaneous search warrant in Western Sydney.
The first search warrant was executed in Macquarie Fields. A 19-year-old man was arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
He was charged with eight offences – three counts of enter land with intent to commit indictable offence, aggravated break and enter with intent – knowing person there, assault with intent to rob in company, two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority.
He was refused bail to appear before Campbelltown Local Court today (Thursday 8 August 2024).
A second search warrant was executed at a home in Glenfield.
Shotgun ammunition was allegedly seized.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and take to Campbelltown Police Station. He was charged with six offences – three counts of enter building/land/with intent to commit indictable offence, aggravated break and enter with intent – knowing person there, assault with intent to rob in company and possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority.
He was refused bail to appear before a Children’s Court today (Thursday 8 August).
In a third search warrant, officers attended a home in Macquarie Fields.
Two males, aged 13 and 15, were arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
They were both charged with five offences – three counts of enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence, aggravated break and enter with intent – knowing person there and assault with intent to rob in company.
They were both refused bail to appear before a Childrens Court today (Thursday 8 August 2024).
Operation Regional Mongoose continues.
