Charges have been laid following an investigation into rural crime-related offences in the state’s south-west.
Investigators attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team established Operation Brushwood to target rural crime related offences throughout Southern Region.
The five-day operation ran between the 24 August 2023 and 28 August 2023, in the Hillston, Booligal, Hay and Rankin Springs areas.
Officers conducted 28 random breath tests, vehicle and person searches, sale yard, firearm, fishing licence and kangaroo harvest inspections, with a number of infringement notices issued over the course of the operation.
About 7.30pm on Saturday (26 August 2023), police were patrolling the intersection of Mount Grace Road and Kidman Way, Wallanthery, when they attempted to stop a Mitsubishi Triton, due to excessive speed.
When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated, before it was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
Following inquiries, just after 8pm police attended a property on O’Briens Road and located the driver and two passengers hiding on a property. Officers conducted a breath test on the driver, which returned a positive result.
An 18-year-old man was arrested and taken to Hillston Police Station for secondary testing.
He was charged with drive with mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol, drive recklessly/furiously speed manner dangerous, not comply P2 licence not display P plate, holder of category A & B licence not have safe storage ammunition and enter enclosed agricultural lands in company in possession of ammunition.
The man was given a court attendance notice to appear at Griffith Local Court today (Wednesday 6 September 2023).
During the operation investigators liaised with landholders in the area to provide advice on target hardening measures and the importance of reporting crime early to police.
Operations will continue in the future.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
