Two people have been charged after property alleged to have been stolen during recent bushfires was located on the state’s South Coast.
About 3pm yesterday (Friday 10 January), officers from South Coast Police District and the Southern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) executed a search warrant at a home in Narooma, following reports of looting in the South Coast region.
During the search, police located a number of electrical items, which are alleged to have been stolen during recent bushfires. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
Following further inquiries, a 38-year-old man was arrested at a home in Tilba Tilba about 5.45pm yesterday.
A crime scene warrant was executed and during a search of the property, police located and seized several electronic goods believed to have been stolen.
Shortly after, a 31-year-old woman was arrested in Narooma and both were taken to Batemans Bay Police Station.
The man has been charged with two counts of enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence, two counts of larceny, dispose property – theft serious indictable offence, and possess prohibited drug.
The woman has been charged with two counts of enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence, two counts of larceny, and two counts of dispose property – theft serious indictable offence.
Police will allege in court that the pair broke into a fire-damaged business in Batemans Bay twice on Wednesday 8 January 2020 and stole electronic items.
Both were refused bail to appear at Batemans Bay Local Court today (Saturday 11 January 2020).
Investigations are continuing.
The NSW Police Force is providing a high-visibility presence to deter criminal activity throughout the current bushfire emergency and assist other emergency services to ensure bushfire-affected areas are safe for the community to return as quickly as possible.
Local police numbers have been bolstered by officers from specialist commands to conduct regular patrols throughout bushfire-affected areas.
Anyone with information about unsafe or unlawful behaviour in the bushfire affected region is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
In the event of an emergency, contact Triple Zero (000).
Information is treated in strict confidence.
