Two men have been charged following investigations into several break-ins, thefts and a ram raid at a registered club in the region.
Just before 2.30am on October 14, police were called to a registered club on Henry Street, Werris Creek, about 50 kilometre south-east of Tamworth, after reports of a ram raid.
An officer from Oxley Police District attended and the police vehicle he was driving was struck by a stolen Holden Rodeo utility before the officer exited the vehicle and fired a number of shots.
No one was injured, and the ute drove away before the occupants dumped the vehicle on The Gap Road and fled into nearby bushland.
Despite an extensive search of the area, they were not located.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, assisted by Oxley Police District, commenced an investigation under Strike Force Ousley.
Strike force detectives also investigated a number of other thefts in the state’s west and north, including:
the attempted theft of an ATM from a financial institution in Bingara on July 29, 2018
an aggravated break-in at a car-wash cash machine in Tuncurry on September 29
motor vehicles were stolen from a business in Narrabri on November 18,
a break-in at a club on Golf Club Road, Wee Waa, about 6am on January 21, where cash and alcohol were stolen.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, assisted by Western Region Operations Support Group, executed two search warrants at homes in Wee Waa from 7am on Wednesday.
Two men – both aged 22 – were arrested during the operation and taken to Narrabri Police Station.
They have both been charged and refused bail to appear at Gunnedah Local Court later today.