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Police have charged two people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 25 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.

Yesterday’s charges:

• Just after 2.30pm yesterday (Monday 20 April 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were called following reports of a woman shoplifting at a chemist on Riley Street, Surry Hills. Police attended and found a 30-year-old woman inside a bank at a shopping centre on George Street, Sydney CBD. Officers searched the woman and allegedly found stolen items, including earrings. Checks revealed the woman had been charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 on Sunday (19 April 2020) and issued three warnings earlier this month. The Surry Hills woman was subsequently arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station where she was charged with shoplifting and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. She was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Tuesday 21 April 2020).

• About 1.30pm yesterday (Monday 20 April 2020), officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command attended a street shopping precinct on Cleeve Close, Mt Druitt, following reports of a brawl. Upon arrival, police observed a group of about 10 men. As officers approached, several members of the group dispersed, before they spoke to a 29-year-old Plumpton man. Checks revealed the man had previously been issued three $1000 PINs and a warning on four separate occasions since Saturday 4 April 2020. He was subsequently arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 10 June 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs include:

• Just after 9.30am, a 40-year-old woman entered a fast food restaurant on Charlton Street, Woy Woy, when she allegedly threatened a 22-year-old staff member. The woman then allegedly spat at staff before entering the employee-only section and stole food. Officers from Brisbane Water Police District were called and arrested the woman. She was issued a $5000 PIN for not comply with notice direction in relation to spitting – COVID19 and a criminal infringement notice for stealing.

• About 7pm, officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District observed a Mitsubishi Triton utility travelling up to 171km/h in a 110km/h zone on the M1 Motorway at Somersby. Police stopped the car at a nearby rest stop, where the driver, a 26-year-old man, underwent a roadside breath test, which allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.054. The man was issued a traffic infringement for exceed speed over 45km/h and low range PCA. He was also issued $1000 Pin for non-essential travel.

• Just after 12pm, officers from Richmond Police District were patrolling the Pat Morton Lookout at Lennox Head, when they spoke with a 31-year-old man who was watching people surf. The man told officers he had travelled from Byron Bay for a surf; however, police observed he did not have his surfboard with him. He was issued a $1000 PIN. At the same location, police spoke with a 60-year-old man who was taking photographs. He told police he had travelled from Queensland to see his son. He was also issued a $1000 PIN.

• At 1.15pm, officers attached to Richmond Police District spoke to two men who were sitting in a van parked at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head. The driver, aged 23, and passenger, aged 27, stated they had travelled from Suffolk Park for a swim. The provisional driver was allegedly unable to provide police with his licence. The driver was issued an infringement notice for not displaying P-plates as required and both were issued $1000 PINs.

• Officers from Murray River Police District were patrolling the Deniliquin area, when they stopped a vehicle on Edwardes Street about 8.15pm. The driver, a 20-year-old man, did not provide a reasonable excuse for not being at home. Police also discovered he had been formally warned regarding the same issue on Friday 17 April 2020. He was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 4.40pm, police will allege a 37-year-old man was at a home on Manilla Road, Oxley Vale, when a Holden Commodore pulled up outside and a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman exited the vehicle with a dog. It’s alleged the younger man, armed with a metal police, threatened and attempted to assault the older man before setting his dog on him. Officers from Oxley Police District attended and arrested the 24-year-old man. He was taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm, armed with intent commit indictable offence, set on, urge dog to attack, bite, negligent driving, and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous. He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 6 July 2020. The man and woman were also issued $1000 PINs.

• About 7.40pm, officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command were patrolling the Whalan area, when they stopped a vehicle on Popondetta Road, near Woodstock Avenue. Officers spoke with the driver, a 29-year-old man, who told police he was out to purchase food and cigarettes. Police discovered the man was from Kelso and had passed many food outlets and stores before arriving in Whalan. Checks also revealed the man had been issued a warning earlier the same day and he was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• Just after 2am, officers from Murrumbidgee Police District were patrolling when they observed a man riding a bicycle on Illiliwa Street, Griffith. Police spoke to the 28-year-old man, who allegedly provided no reasonable excuse for being out of his house. He was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 9.30pm, officers from St George Highway Patrol Command stopped a Toyota Camry on Belmore Road, Riverwood, for the purposes of a roadside breath and drug test. The driver, a 28-year-old man, allegedly returned a positive detection to cannabis and taken to Kogarah Police Station for a secondary test. Inquiries revealed the man had driven from his home in Bankstown to a relative’s house in Riverwood to allegedly smoke cannabis. He was issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel. Investigations continue.

• About 7.40pm, officers from the Police Transport Command, spoke to three teenage girls at Central Railway Station. Checks revealed one of the girls, aged 16, had previously been warned earlier that day after she travelled from her home at Avoca without a reasonable excuse. The girl was also warned on 16 April after being stopped at Gosford Railway Station. She was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN. The two other girls were issued warnings.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: . Informationis treated in strict confidence.