Eight people have been charged with property and traffic-related offences following a stolen vehicle pursuit in the state’s north west yesterday.
Just after 7am (Friday 10 December 2021), officers attached to Oxley Police District attempted to stop a vehicle travelling north on the New England Highway, Nemingha, following concerns regarding its manner of driving.
Subsequent inquiries revealed the vehicle was stolen.
The vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated. Road spikes were deployed, and the pursuit was terminated due to safety reasons.
A short time later, the vehicle was located abandoned on Brewery Lane, Tamworth, and seized for examination.
Following a search of the surrounding area, five males – aged 19, two aged 15, 14 and 13 – were arrested hiding in a storm water drain near Marius and Dean Street.
About 8.30am, a further three males – aged 24, 22 and 16 – were arrested near Peel Street.
All eight were taken to Tamworth Police Station, where they were each charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, larceny and two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal.
Additionally, the 16-year-old was charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse and a second count of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal.
The 24-year-old man was also charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, and drive while licence cancelled.
Police will allege in court that the Holden Commodore had been stolen from a home in North Street, Tamworth, early Friday morning.
It was driven to a service station on Booral Road, Booral, about 4am, where the males allegedly broke-in and stole soft drink, before fleeing the scene.
A short time later, another motor vehicle and a home were allegedly broken into in Stroud, where personal items were stolen.
They were all refused bail to appear before Tamworth Bail Court today (Saturday 11 December 2021).
Investigations continue.
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.
