A man has been charged following investigations into alleged deliberately lit fires in the state’s Southern Highlands at the weekend.
About 11pm on Saturday (15 October 2022) emergency services were called to a business on Bong Bong Street, Bowral, following reports of a fire at the rear of the building.
Despite the efforts of Fire and Rescue NSW officers, the building was destroyed.
About 3.40am on Sunday (16 October 2022), police attended a home on Murchison Street, Mittagong, where there was a fire at the premises.
Fire and Rescue NSW officers extinguished the blaze a short time later; however, two rooms within the premises were extensively damaged.
Officers from The Hume Police District established crime scenes at both locations, which were forensically examined by specialist officers.
Detectives established Strike Force Combermere to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fires, which are believed to be linked.
Following inquiries, officers attached to Kings Cross Police Area Command attended an address at Darlinghurst and arrested a 46-year-old man, yesterday (Monday 17 October 2022).
He was taken to Kings Cross Police Station where he was interviewed by detectives from Strike Force Combermere, before being charged with two counts of break and enter house etc destroy etc property – serious indictable offence, and two counts of damage property by fire.
He was bail refused and will appear in Downing Centre Local Court today (Tuesday 18 October 2022).
