A man has been charged with trespass, arson and property damage offences following an investigation into a fire at a recycling centre near Wollongong.
Shortly after 9pm on Thursday 20 June (2019), emergency services responded to a fire at a recycling centre in Unanderra.
The fire was extinguished by NSW Fire and Rescue, however the entire structure including a kitchen and crib room was destroyed.
Police attended the scene and established a crime scene, before commencing an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Police will allege a 45-year-old man entered the premises shortly after 8.30pm on the night of the fire (Thursday 20 June 2019) and dragged a large gas bottle from the scene, before re-entering the premises to start the fire.
Shortly after the incident occurred, police arrested a 45-year-old man in Unanderra on unrelated traffic offences.
A 45kg gas bottle from the recycling centre was found in the rear of the vehicle.
Following investigations by detectives attached to Lake Illawarra Police District, the man was arrested yesterday (Wednesday 3 July 2019).
He was charged with offences relating to unlawful entry, larceny, break and enter, and destroy property by fire.
The man will appear before Wollongong Local Court tomorrow (Friday 5 July).
