A strike force, tasked with investigating so-called “swarming offences” by gangs of young thieves, has arrested two teenagers in Sydney’s west.
Around 11.30am yesterday (Wednesday 31 July 2019), officers from Strike Force Arpen executed a search warrant at an address in Lalor Park in relation to a series of property thefts.
Police later took a 15-year-old boy into custody at Blacktown Police Station.
He was charged with two counts of larceny in relation to so-called “swarming” or grab and run thefts at telco stores at Burwood on Friday 15 March and Top Ryde on Friday 22 March and with participating in a criminal group.
He was released on bail, ordered to appear in Parramatta Children’s Court on Monday 26 August.
As part of a separate investigation, around 9.45am today (Thursday 1 August 2019), investigators from SF Arpen travelled to a home in Quakers Hill where they arrested another 15-year-old over the theft of products from retail stores at Carlingford and Epping on Friday 12 April; the Sydney CBD on Sunday 14 April; Penrith on Friday 3 May and Homebush on Wednesday 8 May.
The youth was taken to the Riverstone Police Station where he was charged with five counts of larceny and one of participating in a criminal group.
He was granted conditional bail and ordered to appear before Parramatta Children’s Court on Tuesday 20 August.
Strike Force Arpen was formed to investigate multiple thefts from retail stores across the Sydney metropolitan area by groups of youths and their associates.
It comprises officers from the North West, South West and Central Metropolitan Regions and State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
