Appeal for information over break and enter and armed robbery in northern region - Op Soteria
Monday, 14 April 2025 01:37:39 PM
PLEASE NOTE: Images of seized vehicles are available via hightail: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/3bo7PosoWI
Police are appealing for public assistance as a part of investigation into multiple break and enters and an armed robbery in the state’s north.
On Friday 11 April 2025, officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District commenced an investigation following reports of multiple break and enters in Kempsey, Arakoon and South West Rocks areas.
Police were told about 9pm on Thursday 10 April 2025, a group of unknown young people forced their way into a home on Thomas Hennessy Crescent, West Kempsey, before they stole a white Toyota Camry Sedan with NSW registration BW72HQ and left the scene.
About 5.10am on Friday 11 April 2025, a number of unknown young people broke into a home on Cardwell Street, Arakoon, before they stole a wallet and a white Mitsubishi SUV with Queensland registration 513DY3 and left the scene. Police were told they arrived in the white sedan - believed to be stolen in West Kempsey earlier – and one of them threatened a 76-year-old man with a unknown long object before leaving the scene in the two stolen vehicles.
About 5.20am, the group of people broke into a service station on Gregory Street, South West Rocks, before they stole a number of confectionary items and left the scene.
A short time later, the group broke into another service station on the same street where three of them were armed with alleged machetes.
At the second service station, they stole an amount of cash along with further confectionary items, cigarettes, a mobile phone device and a key from a 42-year-old staff member. Police were told the man was assaulted by them before they left the scene in the two vehicles. The man sustained minor injuries.
Just after 5.50am on the same day, police were patrolling on River Street, West Kempsey, when they located the two vehicles heading to Greenhill area.
When the vehicles failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued through River Street, Greenhill, where it was terminated due to safety concerns.
A short time later, police located the SUV abandoned with the stolen wallet in it at a bushland near Marrambah Place, Greenhill.
About 6.10am, police also seized the sedan on Leith Street, West Kempsey.
Both vehicles and the wallet were seized to be forensically examined.
Initial inquires allege all incidents are linked.
Police have established multiple crime scenes and commenced an investigation into the incidents.
Anyone with information about this incident, dashcam footage or may have seen the vehicles 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.