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Four charged as Operation Soteria continues - Mid North Coast

Wednesday, 15 October 2025 05:30:45 PM

A man and three teenagers will face court charged as Operation Soteria continues across the Mid North Coast.

In recent months, police have investigated several alleged incidents they believed were linked, including serious aggravated break and enter incidents and traffic offences.

Following extensive inquiries into the incidents, search warrants were executed at five homes near Kempsey today by Mid North Coast Police, assisted by the Region Enforcement Squad, North Coast DV High-Risk Offender Team, Coffs/Clarence Proactive Crime Team, Crash Investigation Unit, Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, the Dog unit and Operation UTAH.

About 11.20am, police executed a search warrant at a home in Greenhill. During a search of the home, police allegedly seized several items of interest. A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the home and taken to Kempsey Police Station. He was charged with 15 offences,

  • Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (five counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal <=$60000 (three counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – armed (two counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – people there
  • Attempt aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company intend steal
  • Attempt robbery armed with offensive weapon
  • Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and
  • Breach of bail.

About 12pm, police stopped a vehicle on Macleay Valley Way, South Kempsey. A 16-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Kempsey Police Station. He was charged with 16 offences,

  • Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner (five counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – people there (three counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – armed (two counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company steal <=$60000 (two counts)
  • Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company intend steal <=$60K-T1
  • Knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime
  • Use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention etc, and
  • Incite police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly.

About 12.20pm, police attended a home in West Kempsey to execute a search warrant. During the search warrant, police allegedly located a 16-year-old boy hiding in a roof cavity. The boy allegedly attempted to strike police with a roof tile before he was arrested and taken to Kempsey Police Station. There he was charged with three counts of assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.

All three teens were refused bail to appear before a children’s court tomorrow (Thursday 16 October 2025).

During the arrest of the boy in West Kempsey, a 28-year-old man allegedly intervened and assaulted police officers. He was arrested and taken to Kempsey Police Station where he was charged with hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty, and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 1 tomorrow (Thursday 16 October 2025).

Operation Soteria will continue to support the Mid North Coast and other police districts in response to offences of this nature in regional communities, with further arrests anticipated.