A mother and son are among a trio of people arrested for nearly 40 break-ins across western Sydney businesses, with damages believed to total $150,000.
Police this morning had three people in custody after a covert operation was established to investigate 39 break-ins of small businesses in western Sydney between Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, June 4.
Officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command, with the assistance of staff attached to the North West Metropolitan Region, formed Strike Force Allanson on Monday, May 26 to investigate the offences.
“I would say at this stage, the investigation has been outstanding,” Nepean Police Area Commander Superintendent Trent King said.
“The work done by police in a very short period of time to identify and arrest people associated with these offences has been nothing short of remarkable and are linked to both covert and overt strategies in terms of our investigative process.”
Strike Force Allanson police arrested a 42-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man shortly after 3am yesterday, outside a supermarket in Whitecross Road in Winmalee.
Police will allege the man was armed with a hammer and was arrested after smashing the glass window multiple times. The woman was arrested in a car nearby.
Police will allege the 42-year-old woman coordinated the break, enter and steal campaign.
A second 18-year-old man was arrested yesterday at 10am at a home in Sorenson Crescent in Blackett.
Police will also allege the 42-year-old is the mother of one of the 18-year-olds involved in the offending.
A Suzuki Swift, which police will allege was the car used in all the offending, has been seized and taken for further examination.
Of the 39 businesses believed to have been targeted by the trio was three food shops at Caddens Corner on Monday, May 19 including Paradise Charcoal Chicken.
Also believed to have been targeted by the trio were three food outlets at the St Clair Shopping Village on Tuesday, May 20 and four shops on Watergum Drive in Jordan Springs on Sunday, May 25.
“They had a very good idea of the locations that they were going to target and the times of day that they were going to target,” King said.
“All of the offences occurred between 3am and 5am in the morning, that was to provide them with some cover and opportunity…”
Police believe hammers were used to smash windows and doors by the 18-year-olds who then stole goods, cash and personal items from the stores, believed to total upwards of $150,000.
“It is estimated at this stage from the proceeds, as well as the damage caused to the local businesses that have been targeted, we’re talking damage in excess of $150,000 and for local businesses, that is a huge impact,” King said.
“I have personally spoken to a number of the people that are victims of this particular offending, and I do know the impact that it’s had on their livelihood.”
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.