A man and four teenage boys were due to face court today after NSW Police were forced to deploy road spikes to stop a fleeing stolen car on the Newell Highway 40km north of Boggabilla last night.
The five were arrested as part of Operation Mulga, which had been set up by police to investigate a series of property offences in the New England region.
“About 9.50pm yesterday, officers received reports of an alleged fail-to-pay by a white Volkswagon Tourag at a service station at Boggabilla,” NSW Police said in a statement this afternoon.
“A short time later, officers saw the vehicle in Maude Street, Moree, and signalled the car to stop. When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated, however It was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.”
At around 11pm, the Volkswagon was allegedly driven directly at police, with officers forced to take evasive action, before the car sped off heading north on the Newell Highway.
“The Volkswagon stopped at Boolooroo rest area on the Newell Highway and allegedly assaulted the driver of a vehicle nearby. The group fled the location with the man’s car keys, mobile phone and wallet,” Police said.
About 40km north on the Newell Highway, police successfully deployed spikes and the car came to a stop, before all five occupants fled on foot.
Two boys – aged 16 – were located hiding under a tree in a paddock. They were arrested and taken to Moree Police Station.
One 16-year-old was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, aggravated robbery and use corporal violence and, use offensive weapon in company to prevent detention.
The other boy was charged with aggravated robbery and use corporal violence and, possess prohibited drug.
Inquiries revealed that the Volkswagon was reported stolen from a motel in Goondiwindi earlier this week.
Following inquiries to locate the other three occupants, officers attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team located and arrested a man and two boys walking along the Newell Highway, about 40kms north of Moree, about 9.40am today.
The group was taken to Moree Police Station, where an 18-year-old man was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, aggravated robbery and use corporal violence and, aggravated break and enter with intent in company-not steal.
A 17-year-old was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and aggravated robbery and use corporal violence.
A 14-year-old boy was charged with two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and aggravated robbery and use corporal violence.
The man was refused bail to appear at Inverell Local Court today, while the boys were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today.
Anyone with information about incidents they believe may be relevant to Operation Mulga investigators 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.
