Fairfield Local Area Command

Two brothers arrested, hydro-house discovered – Bonnyrigg

A man and a teenager have been arrested after Police raided a house in Bonnyrigg and unearthed a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis system.

In December 2009 officers from Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad attached to Strike Force Plante began investigations into a suspected hydro-house at Anton Place, Bonnyrigg.

About 10:15am yesterday, following a number of investigations, Police conducted a search warrant at the home allegedly locating 51 cannabis plants being grown hydroponically.

Police will allege three rooms of the home had been converted with the plants being grown using lamps and an irrigation system.

The seized cannabis plants have an estimated potential street value of approximately $192,000.

A 21-year-old man and his 17-year-old brother were arrested at the home and taken to Fairfield Police Station where they were interviewed about the matter.

The 21-year-old was charged with cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), conduct drug premises and stealing electricity. He was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today.

The 17-year-old will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act by way of caution for concealing a serious offence and being found in/on a drug premises.

Campsie Local Area Command

Man stabbed – Lakemba

Campsie Police are investigating the stabbing of a man at Lakemba overnight.

Police were called to a convenience store in Haldon Street shortly after 9.30pm after a man had sought assistance from the store owner.

The 33-year-old man was treated for a stab wound to his chest by Paramedics before being taken to St George Hospital in a serious condition.

Scene of crime officers and a dog unit were called to examine the area.

Police believe the man may have been involved in an argument immediately before the stabbing.

They are also examining the possibility that the incident may be domestic related.

Anyone who witnessed the stabbing, or who may have information relevant to the investigation, is urged to contact Campsie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Quakers Hill Local Area Command

Crime Stoppers call leads to $440,000 cannabis haul – Quakers Hill

A caller to Crime Stoppers has resulted in cannabis valued at more than $440,000 being seized from a home in Quakers Hill.

Police from the Quakers Hill Local Area Command executed a search warrant on a home in Pacific Parade about 3.30pm yesterday, following the tip-off from the public.

It will be alleged they discovered an elaborate hydroponic set-up with 224 plants being cultivated within the home’s bedrooms and a shed in the backyard.

A 49-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and taken to Quakers Hill Police Station where she is assisting Police with their inquiries.

The crop has an estimated potential street value of about $448,000.

Police wish to thank the local community for their assistance, and urge anyone with information about potential hydro houses, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Kuring Gai Local Area Command

Woman charged after baby locked in car – Hornsby

Police from Kuring Gai Local Area Command have charged a woman after a child was found locked in a car in a Hornsby car park earlier this week.

Officers were called to the car park in Albert Street after an 11-month-old boy was found strapped in his baby seat in a locked Lexus RX 4WD about 12.45pm on Monday (1 February).

It will be alleged security guards were alerted to the child’s presence by his cries, and a check revealed the owner had parked about 10 minutes earlier and entered the shopping centre.

Police and security guards were unable to locate the child’s mother and were attempting to break into the vehicle when the 23-year-old woman returned about 1.15pm.

The child was treated at the scene for dehydration.

The woman, from Berowra, was charged at Hornsby Police Station later that day with leave child/young person in motor vehicle causing emotional distress.

The woman was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice (FCAN) to appear in North Sydney Local Court on 17 March.

Parramatta Local Area Command

Bandidos OMCG associate charged, drugs and firearm seized – Strike Force Raptor

Strike Force Raptor officers have charged a Bandidos OMCG associate and seized drugs and a firearm during an operation at Granville.

Officers executed a search warrant on premises on Hudson Street at Granville yesterday.

A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Parramatta Police Station.

Police allege the man is an associate of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG).

He was charged with possess prohibited drugs and has been granted conditional bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on 10 March, 2010.

During the search warrant Police will allege they located and seized:

• A loaded .45 semi-automatic pistol,
• Large quantity of ammunition,
• A quantity of white powder believed to be cocaine,
• MDMA tablets,
• Items associated with drug supply.

Further investigations are continuing in relation to the alleged possession of the firearm and ammunition.

Strike Force Raptor was established by the State Crime Command Gangs Squad and is a proactive and high-impact operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and their associated criminal enterprises.

Blacktown Local Area Command

High-ranking Notorious member charged with alleged drug offences – Strike Force Raptor

Strike Force Raptor officers have charged a high-ranking member of the Notorious criminal group in relation to alleged drug related offences.

About 4.20pm yesterday, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Indigo Way at Blacktown and taken to Blacktown Police Station.

Police allege the man is a high-ranking member of the Notorious criminal group.

He was charged with:

• Possess prohibited drugs,
• Two counts of possess anabolic steroids,
• Possess a prescribed restricted substance.

The man was refused bail and will appear at Blacktown Local Court today.

The charge follows on-going investigations conducted by Police following a search warrant executed at a unit on Griffiths Avenue at Blacktown on 6 October last year.

During the search warrant Police located and seized drugs including MDMA, steroids, and restricted substances.

Strike Force Raptor was established by the State Crime Command Gangs Squad and is a proactive and high-impact operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and their associated criminal enterprises.

Parramatta Local Area Command

Chisel allegedly used in attempted bus ‘hijack’ – Parramatta

A man is due to appear in Parramatta court today charged after allegedly threatening a Police officer and a bus-load of passengers with a chisel.

Senior Constable Tillman from Gladesville was on his lunch break and attending a course at Police Headquarters witnessed a man allegedly breaking into a car in Macarthur Street about 12.15pm.

The officer challenged the man who allegedly threatened him with a chisel, before running through the Parramatta CBD.

The officer called for assistance and continued to chase the man on foot before the alleged offender boarded a bus in Macquarie Street and threatened the driver and 50 passengers with the chisel.

Commander Acting Superintendent David Egan-Lee addressed a media conference in Parramatta. He described the bus as a full length Parramatta City Council CBD loop service.

The man allegedly attempted to start the bus before the officer intervened and was again threatened with the chisel before the man ran from the scene into a shopping centre.

The search for the man continued until shortly after 1.30pm when a resident of a block of units on the Great Western Highway flagged down a Highway Patrol car to report a man hiding in his garage had threatened him with a knife.

Police arrested a 41-year-old Guildford man and took him to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:

• Larceny (two counts),
• Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention,
• Aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it while armed with weapon (car-jacking),
• Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention (two counts),
• Armed with intent to commit an indictable offence,
• Custody of knife in public place.

The man was refused bail before his court appearance later today.

Investigators are seeking to speak with anyone who witnessed the incident, especially the passengers on the bus.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Parramatta Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Lake Illawarra Local Area Command

Child hit by 4WD – Unanderra

Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command are investigating a pedestrian crash last night at Unanderra, in which a four-year-old girl suffered serious head and internal injuries.

A 35-year-old man told Police he was driving his Toyota Hilux 4WD along Beatus Street about 6pm when he saw a small dog run onto the road, followed by a child.

The driver braked but was unable to avoid hitting the child.

The girl, from Unanderra, suffered head and internal injuries. She was airlifted to the Sydney Children’s Hospital where she is described as being in a critical but stable condition.

The driver has undergone mandatory blood and urine tests at Wollongong Hospital.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not spoken to Police is urged to contacted Warilla Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Blue Mountains Local Area Command

Police appeal to find missing 60-year-old woman – Katoomba

The family of a woman missing in Katoomba has asked Police for help in locating her.

Margaret Hills 60 years old was last seen by her husband before they retired for the evening yesterday. She has not been seen since.

Police and her family are concerned for the Katoomba resident’s welfare as she takes regular medication for a number of ongoing conditions. When she left home Mrs. Hills did not have any medication or money with her.

Her disappearance is quite out of character for her.

When she was last seen Mrs. Hills was wearing dark blue pants, a light blue floppy hat, a purple short sleeved T-Shirt and a pink jacket. She might also be carrying a walking stick.

Anyone with information on Mrs. Hills whereabouts is urged to contact Katoomba Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in strict confidence.

City Central Local Area Command

Seventh man charged for 1989 indecent assault at Fire Station

Police from City Central Local Area Command have charged a seventh man in relation to an indecent assault alleged to have taken place in a Sydney Fire Station in 1989.

Police received a report in March 2009 that a NSW Fire Brigade officer was indecently assault by work colleagues.

Strike Force Coolara was formed and as a result of investigations Police have served a Future Court Attendance Notice on a 43-year-old man from Revesby.

The man was charged with six counts of indecent assault in company and has been bailed to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on 16 March 2010.