Police say that shortly after 4.20am, yesterday, Sunday August 1 a youth forced open
one of the steel gates of the Palace Cinemas Byron Bay. The accused, a a 21-year-old male, proceeded up the stairs to the main entrance of the cinemas and looked inside.
The accused is seen to be wearing a grey jumper tied around his face, black cap, a black and red Puma tracksuit and white Asics runners.
At 4.25am the accused walked away from the cinema towards the Mexican Cantina restaurant where he picked up a concrete block, carried it back to the cinema doors and threw it at the glass door of the cinema shattering the glass.
The accused picked up a piece of concrete and broke through the glass and gained entry to the cinema.
The accused remained inside for some time before leaving through the same broken door with a small white bin filled with food items. The accused waked down the external stairs towards Jonson Street with these items and then returned a short time after.
He re-entered the cinema several times before walking to a shop undergoing refurbishment. The accused pulled away one of the boards and left it on the ground.
Police say he again re-entered the cinema as security arrive on scene. As the accused attempted to exit the cinema, he was confronted by security who took hold of him and called Police.
Police arrived on scene and located the accused with security. Police returned to the
cinema complex and located several pieces of broken brick at the front entrance to the
cinema and inside the premise.
Numerous blood droplets and smears were located near each broken window. The male was placed under arrest and will be charged with break and enter.
He is still in custody at Byron Bay Police Station.
