Combined staff of the New England Police District, recently conducted a high visibility rural crime operation.
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Staff from Tingha, Bundarra, Ashford, Delungra, Warialda and Bingara combined with officers from Gravesend, Pallamallawa, NEPD Rural Crime Investigators and Inverell Criminal Investigation gathered on December 3 and 4.
The goal was to saturate an area centered around the North Star and Croppa Creek areas, bounded by Pallamallawa/Warialda in the south and Yetman in the north.
Officers were tasked with visiting properties in the area to speak with property owners and managers to discuss rural crime related topics and deliver information packs relating to safe storage of firearms.
Both marked and unmarked vehicles were utilised including trial bikes that patrolled Bullala State Forest and Kwiambal National Park.
"Operation Rusticus provided the opportunity for sector staff to get out and about and gain further insight into what is impacting on those operating businesses in the rural sector.
“We can't do much about the weather but we can, with the assistances of landowners and their neighbours reduce the impact rural crime has on their finances and well-being,” Officer in charge of Inverell Police Station Rowan O'Brien said.
During the operation a 21-year-old Warialda man was detected with 24 cannabis plants.
He was served with a court attendance notice for cultivate a prohibited plant.
Also a 60-year-old Warialda man was stopped and returned a Low Range PCA reading.
Both men will appear before Warialda Local Court on January 23.
Well over sixty properties were visited during the two day operation. Information gained will be used to forumlate future targetted patrols of the area and other operations.
