Police in the state’s Western Region have charged more than 100 people since the launch of Operation Regional Mongoose.
The ongoing high-visibility operation, which began Wednesday 27 September 2023, focusses on serious property-related crime predominately committed by young offenders.
To date, the operation has resulted in 102 people – including 74 juveniles – charged with more than 609 offences, of those 86 were for breach of bail.
Incidents of note,
- New England Police District commenced an investigation into two stolen vehicles; one taken from a home in Moree on the 19 November 2023, and another from a home in Tamworth on 28 March 2023. Following inquiries, officers arrested a 14-year-old boy in Moree about 8am on Thursday 14 December 2023.
He was charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He appeared at a children’s court on Thursday 14 December 2023, where he was formally refused bail to appear at another children’s court on Tuesday 20 February 2024.
- Officers attached to Central North Police District commenced an investigation into a number of property-related offences in the Walgett area. Following inquiries, police executed two search warrants in Walgett just after 8am on Monday 11 December 2023. Two boys – aged 15 and 14 – were arrested and taken to Walgett Police Station. The older boy was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, two counts face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence, three counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction. He was refused bail and appeared at a children’s court on Monday 11 December 2023, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at same court on Tuesday 13 February 2024.
The younger boy was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-armed, face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He appeared at a children’s court on Tuesday 12 December 2023, where he was given conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 13 February 2024.
- About 7.45pm on Monday (18 December 2023), police attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District were patrolling Dubbo, when they saw two people on a motorcycle; neither were wearing helmets. Following inquiries, the motorcycle was found abandoned on Allison Street. A 17-year-old boy was arrested a short time later on Wirraway Street and taken to Dubbo Police Station. The boy has been charged with face blackened/disguised with intent commit indictable offence, two counts of never-licensed person drive vehicle on road, two counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, and breach of bail.
He was refused bail and appeared at a children’s court on Tuesday (19 December 2023), where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Monday 19 February 2024.
Investigations under Operation Regional Mongoose continue.
Anyone with information about Operation Regional Mongoose 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.
