A 15-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man have been arrested and charged by police involved in an ongoing investigation into a series of armed robberies on the Mid North Coast.

Strike Force Mehi 2 was established in August this year (2012) and comprises detectives from State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Mid North Coast Local Area Command.
Detectives have been investigating a criminal syndicate they will allege was involved in at least four armed robberies in the area.
Also under investigation is a conspiracy to rob a licensed premises at Black Head, which was thwarted by police on Sunday 18 November 2012 after the arrest of a 28-year-old woman.

On the day (Sunday 18 November 2012), police attempted to intercept two stolen vehicles linked to the planned robbery, but were unsuccessful in apprehending all of the vehicles’ occupants.

About 5.20am yesterday (Thursday 13 December 2012), police from the Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command arrested a 15-year-old male at a property on St Vincents Street in Chatham.

Detectives will allege the teen was involved in the conspiracy to rob the licensed premises at Black Head on Sunday 18 November.

The teen was taken to Taree Police Station and charged with a number of offences including conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, aggravated break, enter and steal, and steal from motor vehicle.

He appeared in court yesterday (Thursday 13 December 2012) and was refused bail to reappear in Taree Children’s Court on Monday 21 January 2013.

The teen’s arrest follows the arrest of a 23-year-old man on Monday (10 December 2012). The man was placed into police custody by Corrective Services and charged with robbery while armed with an offensive weapon.

He appeared in court and was refused bail to reappear in Taree Local Court on Tuesday 5 February 2012.

Investigations by Strike Force Mehi 2 are continuing into a number of armed robberies, including:
– The robbery of a post office at Kundabung on 10 August 2012; – The robbery of a financial institution at West Kempsey on 20 August 2012; – The robbery of a licensed premises at Mylestrom on 31 August 2012; – The robbery of a financial institution at Wauchope on 17 October 2012.
Including this week’s arrests, five people have now been charged by Strike Force Mehi 2 detectives.
Strike Force Mehi 2 follows on from the success of Strike Force Mehi 1, comprising detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and the Mid North Coast and Coffs/Clarence Local Area Commands.
That strike force was established to investigate a series of robberies between March and July this year and resulted in 13 people being arrested and charged with armed robbery and other offences. The matters are still before the court.