NB: Images from the operation have been uploaded to the Rural Crime – NSW Police and NSWPF Facebook sites.
Two men have been arrested for rural crime offences during a cross-border operation between the NSW Police Force and Queensland Police Service in the Inglewood area.
In April 2019, officers from the NSW Police Rural Crime Prevention Team at Moree launched Strike Force Wheaton in conjunction with Queensland police from St George CIB, in response to offences committed on rural properties in the Mungindi, St George, Dirrranbandi and Thallon areas near the NSW/QLD border.
At 10.15am today (Thursday 9th May 2019) officers from the New England Police District (@NSWPF) and the Darling Downs District (@QPS) attended an address near Inglewood in Queensland. A 31-year-man attempted to flee from police on foot through a paddock.
After a brief foot pursuit, police were able to take hold of the man, who was arrested after a short struggle.
A search warrant was executed at the Inglewood property where police recovered a 2013 Toyota Landcruiser utility which was allegedly stolen from a property at St George, Queensland, in the early hours of Tuesday 7 May 2019.
Police also recovered other items including a small amount of methylamphetamine (ICE) and ammunition.
A 28-year-old man was spoken to at the premises and was issued a Notice to Appear for possession of tainted property.
The 31-year-old man was conveyed to Warwick Watch House where he was charged with Enter premises and commit indictable offence (six counts), trespass, stealing, possessing dangerous drugs, and
obstruct police.
He will appear at the Warwick Magistrates Court on 10 May 2019 for the offences. The man will be dealt with for other matters in NSW at a later date.
NSW State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said, “The Rural Crime Prevention Team continue to work closely with our counterparts in neighbouring jurisdictions, with these arrests serving as a reminder to offenders that state borders won’t prevent us from apprehending those that target our rural communities.
“We maintain a zero-tolerance approach for all crimes committed against our rural communities, and this is another example highlighting the capability of your local police disrupting criminals that prey on our regional communities.”
If you have any information about rural crime being committed in your area, please contact your local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
