Nine people have been charged following investigations into traffic and property-related offences in the state’s north east.
Operation Western Mongoose was established in April 2022 to investigate property offences, break and enters, and vehicle thefts throughout Oxley Police District.
Over the past week of the operation, officers arrested eight teenagers – two aged 17, five aged 15, and one aged 14.
They were charged with numerous property and traffic-related offences including aggravated break and enter, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and drive recklessly/furiously/speed in manner dangerous.
One of the 15-year-old’s was charged with 21 offences. All are due to appear before children’s court at a later date.
Additionally, officers patrolling West Tamworth about 3.40am last Wednesday (18 May 2022), following reports of a break-in, arrested a 28-year-old man near a park on Maxwell Street, West Tamworth.
He was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with possess prohibited drug, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, two counts of supply prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime.
The man was given conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 6 June 2022.
Investigations will continue under Operation Western Mongoose.
Operation Western Mongoose consists of officers from the Proactive Crime Team, Detectives, Crime Prevention Unit within Oxley Police District, Western Region Enforcement Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Youth Command and Dog Unit.
Anyone with information about crimes such as these is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or . Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
