Paul Bibby
A local father fought off a young home invader armed with a gun who broke into his house in Mullumbimby in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.
Police say the father, who has asked not to be identified, woke at around 4am to discover that a youth armed with a 45 calibre Beretta pistol had climbed into his home through an open window.
‘The 18-year-old accused male threatened the male occupant, who was at home with his wife and three children,’ Detective Inspector Matt Kehoe of Byron Police said.
‘He then demanded money from him.’
‘A struggle ensued in which the father disarmed the accused and restrained him until police arrived.’
The father was not physically harmed during the incident, but The Echo understands that the youth suffered a number of injuries.
The accused was charged with specially aggravated enter dwelling with a dangerous weapon, and cannabis possession.
He appeared on Tweed Heads local court on Thursday and was refused bail.
‘The father certainly exhibited a tremendous amount of bravery when confronted with such a situation,’ Inspector Kehoe said.
‘It’s probably not something we would tell people to do, but that’s what he saw and what he felt he needed to do and we recognise his brave acts.
‘We would remind people to make sure their doors and windows are locked at night.’
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