OXLEY police have raided a number of homes and arrested several men as part of investigations into a weekend robbery, and a spate of break and enters in Tamworth and Gunnedah.
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Search warrants were executed by police in Warral Road and Tingira Street early on Tuesday morning, following on from raids in the West Tamworth area in recent days.
Officers from Operation Southbreak, Target Action Group (TAG) police as well as detectives have been trying to combat the spate of break-and-enters, stolen cars and home invasions in the Tamworth area, and made significant breakthroughs this week.
"We are making inroads into these investigations; we know who they are, we are investigating and we have executed a number of search warrants, and seized a number of goods and we have put people before the courts," Oxley Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy said.
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A 19-year-old man was refused bail on Tuesday after his arrest in a foot pursuit in West Tamworth.
He's facing two aggravated break-and-enter charges, dealing with the proceeds of crime and failing to pay after allegedly committing offences in the Gunnedah township earlier this month.
"This was a result of investigations by Operation Southbreak which is targeting those break-and-enter offences in the South and West Tamworth area, and we have already a number of people before the courts," Detective Darcy said.
"The 19-year-old male was arrested at 5.30am on Tuesday after a short foot pursuit and detained hiding in a residence in West Tamworth.
"Further inquiries in relation to other offences this month in the Tamworth area are still the subject of investigation by police."
An 18-year-old man is in custody accused of assault with intent to rob a man on Saturday night in Petra Avenue.
Police allege two males chased the victim into Petra Avenue, pulled a knife on him and demanded money before the victim dropped his belongings and fled to safety.
Further inquiries in relation to other offences this month in the Tamworth area are still the subject of investigation by police.
- Oxley Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy
"Following on from investigations, police executed search warrants in Warral Road and Tingira Street and officers have seized items which they will allege are connected to this offence."
A second man is on the run, with police urging him to hand himself in.
"It's only a matter of time until we track down the whereabouts of that man who we allege knows we want to speak to him, so we would urge him to hand himself into police to assist with our investigations," Detective Darcy said.
He said police had reason to believe some locals were harbouring, or hiding, those responsible.
"We know there are people in the community who are assisting these offenders to evade police," he said.
"We will not hesitate to take action against those people because it is an offence to assist, and they are complicit in these offences, and we will arrest them and put them before the courts."
Investigations continue into the last fortnight's stolen cars and aggravated break-ins in Windmill Hill, Calala, South Tamworth and West Tamworth.
"The Target Action Group continues to fight the recent spate of property offences, and we have had some good arrests, but police need community help to combat these offenders," Detective Darcy said.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
