Four men have been arrested and charged over a series of violent home invasions in the Tweed earlier this year.
The incidents are alleged to be linked and the arrests follow the formation of Strike Force Barakete, led by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad
In the first incident in March, a group of men forced entry to a home on Beryl Street at Tweed Heads and threatened the occupants with a firearm. No one was injured; however, the group stole a number of items from the home before fleeing.
Also in March, an elderly couple at their home in James Street, Murwillumbah, were threatened by a group of men who entered their home armed with firearms and repeatedly assaulted the man.
They ransacked the home and stole jewellery and other items.
In April, a number of men forced entry to a home on Wyuna Road at Tweed Heads and ordered the occupants to lie on the floor while they ransacked the home.
When one of the occupants managed to escaped, an intruder fired a shot towards him as he ran from the home; however, it missed and he wasn’t injured.
Following a lengthy investigation by strike force detectives, a 19-year-old Queensland man was arrested last Tuesday and charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter. He was bailed to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on 5 January next year.
On Wednesday this week, a 21-year-old Banora Point man was arrested and taken to Tweed Heads police station where he was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence.
He was given conditional bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on 15 December.
Yesterday at around 7.30am, , a 24-year-old Bundall man was arrested at Tweed Heads police station and charged with special aggravated break and enter. He appeared in Tweed Heads Local Court where he was given strict conditional bail to face court again on 2 December.
A short time later, police stopped a car at Bilambil and arrested a 22-year-old man and charged him with special aggravated break and enter. He faced Tweed Heads Local court yesterday afternoon.
The investigation into the incidents by the strike force continue. Police urge anyone with information in relation to these incidents to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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