In December 2020, detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Kelburn to investigate armed robberies occurring throughout the Mid North Coast, most recently in Kempsey and Lake Cathie.

Following inquiries, with assistance from Mid North Coast Police District and Northern Region Operation Support Group, a 17-year-old boy was arrested at a home in Greenhill just after 11am on February 25.

Later that day, an 18-year-old man was arrested at a home on Hutcheson Street, Hat Head, just after 3pm.

Search warrants were executed at two homes in Greenhill, where police seized an imitation firearm, mobile phones and clothing. The items will undergo further examination.

The pair were taken to Kempsey Police Station, where the younger boy was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal commit serious indictable offence-people there, damage property by fire, destroy/damage property in company, aggravated break and enter with intent-in company-steal, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, tw counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon and possess unauthorised prohibited firearm.

The older man was charged with possess unauthorised pistol and give pistol to person not authorised by licence/permit.

Police will allege in court that on Saturday, February 20, a house in Lake Cathie was broken into and a Volkswagen Toureg was stolen, before being used in a ram raid at a business on South Street, South Kempsey on Sunday, February 21. The vehicle was located burnt out later that day.

It will be further alleged on Monday, February 22, an attempted armed robbery occurred at a petrol station on Lachlan Street, South Kempsey, where a male threatened a staff member with a firearm to let him inside the shop. The staff member refused, and the male fled the scene.

They were refused bail to appear before a Children's Court and Kempsey Local Court today, February 26.

Investigations under Strike Force Kelburn are ongoing.

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