Wagga police have made five arrests over a number of armed home invasion and car theft incidents, including one involving a firearm.
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Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Spliet said a strike force had been established in response to a number of stolen vehicles and property offences.
“(On Tuesday) an 18-year-old male and a 23-year old male were arrested and charged in relation to an offence in Northcott Avenue over the weekend where some males attended a house and broke into that dwelling and members of that house were assaulted with baseball bats,” he said
“We will alleged that in the following days the same people re-attended that house and attempted to steal a motor vehicle and at the time one of those males was armed with a shotgun.
“As a result of that matter, the 23-year-old male has been charged with aggravated break and enter and the 18-year-old has been charged with aggravated break and enter and going armed with a shotgun and other firearms offences.”
Both males, who live in Wagga, were refused bail and were due to attend Wagga Local Court on Wednesday.
Inspector Spliet said police were investigating items seized from the 18-year-old’s residence in relation possible connections to other offences in Wagga.
Wagga police have also made arrests as a result of two police pursuits.
“Last week, a 20-year-old Ashmont male was arrested and charged in relation to a stolen motor vehicle offence and pursuit last year where a police vehicle was rammed,” Inspector Spliet said.
“That male was placed before the court and given bail to appear on the 12th of March.
Inspector Spliet said arrests had also been made in relation to a separate police pursuit.
“On Monday, two 18-year-old Ashmont males were arrested for being carried in a stolen conveyance after a police pursuit between Albury and Wagga,” he said.
“That vehicle crashed into a fence and two males were captured a short time later in relation to that matter.
“They were both placed before the court and bail was refused.”
Inspector Spliet said he was proud of the results that Riverina Police District had achieved.
“Our local detectives as well as the regional enforcement squad and the pro-active crime team have put a lot of effort and a lot of time into these matters,” he said.
“Inquiries are still ongoing and it’s likely that further arrests will be made in the future.
“It has been a very good and sustained effort by local investigators to get this far.”
Police are also looking into any possible links with the recent arrests and armed robberies of two taxi drivers and a service station in the previous weeks.
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