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Four knives seized during Operation Ares - Lake Illawarra PD

Monday, 14 April 2025 02:26:26 PM

Police seized multiple knives during a high visibility operation in the Illawarra.

Operation Ares is a high visibility police operation where officers from Public Transport and Public Safety Command used handheld scanners – or electronic metal-detecting ‘wands’ – to locate and seize knives in public places.

Operation officers with assistance from Lake Illawarra Police District , conducted a handheld scanning operation in Dapto shopping precinct, Dapto Railway station, Shellharbour shopping precinct and Shellharbour Junction Railway station, between 12pm Friday 11 April 2025 and 12am Saturday 12 April 2025.

During the one day operation, the follow results were achieved;

  • 166 people were scanned
  • 4 weapons were detected and seized
  • 2 charges were laid, including possession of knife in a public place, possessing a prohibited drug
  • 4 people were arrested, two were dealt with under the Young Offenders Act
  • 2 drugs were seized – methylamphetamine and cannabis

The operation was run concurrently with the state-wide Operation Foil targeting locations known for violent offending, knife crime, possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.

Notable incidents include;

  • About 5.30pm on Friday 11 April 2025, officers were patrolling the shopping centre in Lake Entrance Road, Shellharbour when they stopped a 38-year-old man to scan. Police seized a kitchen knife from his backpack. He was issued with a court attendance notice for custody of a knife in public place. He will appear in Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 28 May 2025.

  • About 3.45pm on Friday 11 April 2025, officers were patrolling the courtyard outside the shopping precinct on Princes Highway, Dapto. Officers scanned a 15-year-old female and her handbag, where the allegedly seized a knife and cannabis. She was issued with a Youth caution and dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.