POLICE are investigating if there is a possible link between a housefire, a stolen and dumped four-wheel-drive and several chases, after a dramatic night of property crime left the city shaken.
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The spree unfolded in a matter of hours under the cover of darkness on Friday morning.
Oxley officers patrolling in West Tamworth tried to stop a Toyota Prado and Holden Commodore travelling in convoy just after midnight when a chase was sparked.
Police were forced to call it off due to safety.
Officers were then alerted a Range Rover had filled up with fuel and taken off without paying at a Marius Street service station, before it joined the Prado and Commodore and headed towards Gunnedah.
Police said the three vehicles were travelling together at high speed when they were intercepted on the Oxley Highway outside Tamworth just before 3am.
Police said the cars failed to stop and despite the dedication of officers and an attempt to deploy road spikes, the chase was called off and the offenders got away.
Police were out in force patrolling when the Range Rover, Commodore and a Jaguar car were spotted just after 4am travelling through West Tamworth.
Another pursuit was initiated but stopped a short time later.
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The Commodore and the Jaguar were found dumped in South Tamworth and will be forensically examined by police.
Police patrolling the area discovered an unoccupied house on Matheson Street in West Tamworth engulfed in flames later that morning.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze but the house was destroyed.
The stolen Prado was found on the same street, and police are investigating if there is a possible link between incidents.
The Range Rover was found abandoned on Frederick Street after being set alight.
Anyone with information or CCTV is urged to immediately come forward to Tamworth police or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The police union and the region's mayors have been pushing hard for more proactive officers to be posted to the region as a matter of urgency, to combat the property crime plague and the danger it poses.
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Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
