A NSW Police spokesperson said four teenagers had been charged after an alleged break-in in Austinmer in July.
The spokesperson said police will allege in court that at about 2:30 am on Wednesday 3 July 2024 a group of young people travelled from Sydney and broke into a home in Boyce Avenue, Austinmer.
“They entered the bedroom of a 50-year-old man and 49-year-old woman and threatened the woman with a knife, demanding car keys to a vehicle,” the NSW Police spokesperson alleged.
“The man challenged the group, before they fled from the premises allegedly stealing a phone and headphones.
“Two children, aged 12 and 17, were also home at the time, but were uninjured.”
Officers attached to Wollongong Police District responded and established a crime scene.
An investigation was launched by officers attached to Operation Regional Mongoose.
The police spokesperson said after extensive inquiries, about 7:45 am on Thursday (8 August) officers executed three simultaneous search warrants in Western Sydney.
The first search warrant was executed in Macquarie Fields, where a 19-year-old man was arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
He was charged with eight offences – three counts of enter land with the intent to commit an indictable offence, aggravated break and enter with intent, assault with intent to rob in company, two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without a permit and possess ammunition without holding a licence.
He was refused bail to appear before Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday (8 August).
A second search warrant was executed at a home in Glenfield, where shotgun ammunition was allegedly seized.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
He was charged with six offences – three counts of enter land with intent to commit an indictable offence, aggravated break and enter with intent, assault with intent to rob in company and possess ammunition without holding a licence.
He was refused bail to appear before a Children’s Court on Thursday (8 August).
In a third search warrant, officers attended a home in Macquarie Fields.
Two males, aged 13 and 15, were arrested and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.
They were both charged with five offences – three counts of enter land with intent to commit an indictable offence, aggravated break and enter with intent and assault with intent to rob in company.
They were both refused bail to appear before a Childrens Court on Thursday (8 August).
Operation Regional Mongoose continues.
In June 2024, Operation Regional Mongoose was established in the Illawarra to investigate offenders across the Wollongong and Lake Illawarra Police Districts, with assistance from the Region Enforcement Squad.
Operation Regional Mongoose is a high-visibility police operation to tackle serious property-related crime committed predominately by young offenders.
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