Two males will appear in court today charged as part of an ongoing investigation into armed robberies on the state’s Mid North Coast.
In December 2020, detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Kelburn to investigate armed robberies occurring throughout the Mid North Coast, most recently in Kempsey and Lake Cathie.
Following inquiries, with assistance from Mid North Coast Police District and Northern Region Operation Support Group, a 17-year-old boy was arrested at a home in Greenhill just after 11am yesterday (Thursday 25 February 2021).
Later that day, an 18-year-old man was arrested at a home on Hutcheson Street, Hat Head, just after 3pm.
Search warrants were executed at two homes in Greenhill, where police seized an imitation firearm, mobile phones and clothing. The items will undergo further examination.
The pair were taken to Kempsey Police Station, where the younger boy was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal commit serious indictable offence-people there, damage property by fire, destroy/damage property in company, aggravated break and enter with intent-in company-steal, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, robbery while armed with dangerous weapon (x2) and possess unauthorised prohibited firearm.
The older man was charged with possess unauthorised pistol and give pistol to person not authorised by licence/permit.
Police will allege in court on Saturday 20 February 2021, a house in Lake Cathie was broken into and a Volkswagen Toureg was stolen, before being used in a ram raid at a business on South Street, South Kempsey on Sunday 21 February 2021. The vehicle was located burnt out later that day.
It will be further alleged on Monday 22 February 2021, an attempted armed robbery occurred at a petrol station on Lachlan Street, South Kempsey, where a male threatened a staff member with a firearm to let him inside the shop. The staff member refused, and the male fled the scene.
They were refused bail to appear before a Children’s Court and Kempsey Local Court today (Friday 26 February 2021).
Investigations under Strike Force Kelburn are ongoing.
Anyone with information that could assist strike force investigators are 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.
