Police Minister responds to Wee Waa crime concerns

NSW Police Minister Paul Toole has responded to concerns about crime in Wee Waa.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home,” said Mr Toole, who also serves as NSW Deputy Premier.

“I know Wee Waa Police, and the entire Narrabri Sector Police, are an extremely dedicated team who show genuine care for the community and have gone above and beyond to make victims of crime feel safe and supported.

“Importantly, they have conducted impressive investigations into the incidents that have occurred in the town and made excellent arrests of property offenders.

“They have conducted targeted operations and implemented localised strategies that have included the use of bicycle operatives and have been well supported by Oxley PD (police district) resources including the Proactive Crime Team, the Crime Prevention Unit and Criminal Investigators.”

The Courier asked Mr Toole for comment after the Member for Barwon Roy Butler released a letter he’d written to the Minister.

“I write to you on behalf of constituents in Wee Waa regarding a series of local theft, damage and break-ins that are occurring in the community,” said Mr Butler in the letter dated January 10.

“Residents are fearful and concerned for their safety with an epidemic of incidents occurring across the town.

“These malicious criminals are breaking into residents’ homes at night and stealing items while they sleep and even at times confronting residents who wake.

“Local police have been notified, however, there is a perception of a lack of response regarding these incidents and residents feel they are not being well protected or represented by local authorities.”

The Courier was provided with statistics,  showing on average around one break-and-enter incident was recorded in the town per week over the last six month and 12-month periods.

While no property should ever be broken into, this is considered ‘low level’ data.

A spike in break-and-enters and stealing from motor vehicle offences occurred in Wee Waa, in April 2021.

However, following investigations by local police, three youths were identified and charged with break-and-enter offences.

Four offenders have been charged with stolen motor vehicle offences (three of those offenders were the same offenders charged with the break, enter and steal offences outlined above).

Two offenders have been charged with stealing from a motor vehicle in the town and are understood to be the same youths listed for break, enter and steal offences and stealing a motor vehicle.

All these crime categories are considered by police to be ‘steady’ (outside the April spike) and indicative of low levels.

Wee Waa police officers have also made an effort to show care and compassion towards the community, for example, by regularly patrolling the residence of woman in her 80s who was previously the victim of a crime when her car was stolen.

Offenders also shut off the power box to her home, causing the woman to be extremely fearful.

Officers were able to locate and recover the woman’s vehicle and an off-duty officer also purchased a lock for the victim’s power box out of their own pocket.