Gunnedah police responded to a range of incidents last weekend – from house fires to stolen vehicles, property theft, alleged drink drivers, domestic violence offences, police pursuits and even the ramming of a police vehicle.
About 2.20am on July 5, police received information that a vehicle that had earlier been stolen from Tamworth, was seen at the Gunnedah McDonalds.
Police attended and located the vehicle and three occupants.
It was alleged the stolen vehicle was driven into the police vehicle several times in an effort to escape.
Police were forced to draw a taser before the three occupants were arrested. The three young persons were conveyed to Gunnedah Police Station.
A 16-year-old boy from Tamworth was charged with offences alleged to have been committed in Glen Innes, Tamworth and Gunnedah including use offensive weapon to avoid lawful detention, breach of bail, drive conveyance without consent of owner and stealing. The boy was bailed-refused by police and was due to appear before Parramatta Children’s Court earlier this week.
A 15-year-old girl was charged with being carried in a conveyance without consent of the owner. She was also bail refused to appear before Parramatta Children’s Court earlier this week. A 14-year-old boy was released without charge and will be dealt with under the Young Offenders’ Act.
In a separate incident, about 4pm on July 6, a 23-year-old man was stopped on the Oxley Highway about 5km from Gunnedah after reports that he was driving dangerously. The driver was submitted to a roadside breath test that was positive. He was detained and conveyed to Gunnedah Police Station where it was alleged the man returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.143. His licence was suspended and he will appear at Gunnedah Local Court on August 5, charged with drive with the middle range PCA.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Gunnedah man was arrested on July 6 after he failed to stop for police on the Kamilaroi Highway and a pursuit was initiated.
The police pursuit continued onto the Oxley Highway where road spikes were successfully used near Bective.
The man was taken to Tamworth Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing but later released pending the results of those tests.
In Gunnedah, a 53-year-old man will face court after a domestic incident last weekend.
It was alleged about 7.20pm on July 5, the man attended an address in Hopedale Avenue, Gunnedah, where he has damaged a door and threatened persons inside the house with a baseball bat.
Police were called and arrested the man before he was taken to Gunnedah Police Station and charged with armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and malicious damage. He was refused bail to appear before Tamworth Local Court earlier this week.
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Police were also seeking assistance from the public after two motor vehicles were stolen from a Gunnedah address at the weekend.
Between 4.50am and 9.43am on July 7, a Landcruiser trayback ute with NSW registration DE09BJ with attached tradesman’s trailer with NSW registration TN67SH were stolen from an address in Baldwin Place, Gunnedah. The trailer has three toolboxes attached with two being white and one yellow.
Between 5pm on July 6 and 7.40am on July 7, a bronze-coloured Nissan X-Trail with registration DL45EH was stolen from an address on Little Bloomfield Street.
Officer in Charge Gunnedah Police, Chief Inspector Michael Wurth, said authorities were also concerned about the recent increase in incidents involving the theft of items from motor vehicles.
“Thieves are targeting vehicles likely to have power tools on or inside them and believe these are being stolen for a specific market,” Chief Inspector Wurth said.
“Over the years police have seized a considerable number of power tools and have investigations hampered by the lack of identification being recorded that may have otherwise seen the tools returned to the rightful owners.
“Police strongly urge owners maintain a register of all items that have a serial number.
“Mark the tools with a specific marker such as a driver’s licence number, initials, etc, to ensure that is recorded. On all occasions, it is vital that any items stolen are reported to police.”
Anyone with information that would assist police in these matters should contact Gunnedah Police on 6742 9099 or Crimestoppers 1800 333 000.
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