Multiple aggravated break-ins and vehicle thefts near Singleton

Two teenagers are set to face court after being charged in connection with a series of break-ins and a police pursuit in the Tamworth and Singleton areas. This comes as part of Operation Regional Mongoose, a high-visibility police initiative aimed at combating serious property-related crimes, primarily committed by young offenders.

The investigation, led by officers from the Oxley and Hunter Valley Police Districts, began following reports of multiple break-ins and a pursuit that took place in Tamworth and Hunterview, near Singleton.

The first incident involved a 14-year-old boy arrested at a Tamworth residence around 1:40 PM on Tuesday, 23 July 2024. The police had been conducting inquiries into several property-related offences in the area between September 2023 and July 2024. The teenager was taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with traffic and criminal-related offences and a breach of bail. He was refused bail and appeared at a Children’s Court the same day, where he received conditional bail to reappear on Tuesday, 20 August 2024.

In a separate incident, officers from the Hunter Valley Police District investigated reports of multiple aggravated break-ins and vehicle thefts in Hunterview throughout July 2024. On Thursday, 11 July 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Hunterview, recovering five sets of allegedly stolen car keys. The following inquiries led to the arrest of a 17-year-old boy at Tamworth Police Station around 12:55 PM on Wednesday, 24 July 2024. He faces multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offence, taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and other related charges. The teenager was also refused bail and is scheduled to appear at a Children’s Court today, Thursday, 25 July 2024.

Operation Regional Mongoose continues to investigate these and other related offences. The public is encouraged to provide any information to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality, and the public is reminded not to report details via NSW Police social media channels.