With rain and storms set to intensify over eastern Australia for the next few days, head to www.bom.gov.au for the latest weather updates. Know your weather, know your risk.
A MAN has been charged over an alleged elaborate scam targeting rental stays advertised via social media platforms, after he was arrested in Merrylands last Thursday.
Cumberland Police began an investigation in May after receiving reports of an alleged rental property scam, where potential tenants paid rental bonds for properties advertised on social media.
The alleged incidents occurred between February 2022 and October 2023 for premises at Liverpool, Wentworthville, Auburn, Parramatta and Bondi. Police seized a number of electronic devices, documentation and other items from a home in Rhodes which will be subject to forensic examination.
The 35-year-old man was charged with 34 offences, including nine counts of publish false misleading material to obtain advantage, 21 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, deal with identity info to commit indictable offence, and possess identity info to commit etc indictable offence.
Police will allege in court that the man obtained in excess of $60,000.
POLICE have allegedly smashed one of Australia’s biggest crime syndicates.
NSW Police arrested a total of 28 people, executed 43 warrants and seized 25 firearms as part of large-scale investigation by the Organised Crime Squad targeting one of the most powerful Organised Criminal Networks (OCN) in Australian history.
Strike Force Tromperie was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission – with assistance from Australian Border Force – to target the activities of a syndicate originating from Lebanon, linked to the movement of over $1 billion through firearm, drug, tobacco, and money laundering offences.
As part of inquiries, Organised Crime Squad detectives were granted a warrant for the arrest of a 37-year-old man believed to be offshore in Lebanon. The man is wanted by virtue of an outstanding warrant in relation to alleged drug related offences.
The year-long investigation resulted in a 450-officer strong operation, during which police arrested 24 people and executed 37 search warrants in the Sydney metropolitan area this week.
The onshore resolution began about 11.50am on Sunday (November 12), when strike force detectives intercepted and arrested a 40-year-old man at Sydney International Airport.
The man was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with nine offences, including knowingly direct activities of criminal group, three counts of supply prohibited drugs, and five counts of deal with property proceeds of crime in excess of $4.4 million.
He was refused bail and appeared before Downing Centre Local Court on Monday (November 13), where police alleged the man was one of the onshore facilitators of the Organised Criminal Network (OCN).
Detectives were assisted by Raptor Squad, the Tactical Operations Unit, State Intelligence Command, and officers and detector dogs from Australian Border Force for the execution of the warrants between 5.30am yesterday (Tuesday, November 14) and 8am today (Wednesday
Detectives have released CCTV footage as they continue to investigate an assault in Guildford last month.
About 2.40pm on Sunday, August 13, a 46-year-old man was driving his black Mazda 3 on Robertson Street, Guildford, when a silver BMW i20 sedan reportedly rammed the back of his vehicle.
The man stopped his Mazda a short distance down the road, when he got out of his car and approached two men who exited the silver BMW.
He was then kicked and punched by the two unknown men, before he fell to the ground, and they continued to assault him and stole his mobile phone.
An additional two people exited another vehicle - a black Honda Accord - which had parked a short distance away, before all four men ran back to their cars and drove from the scene.
The man was treated at the scene by paramedics for facial injuries, before being taken to hospital for further treatment. He has since been discharged.
Cumberland Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage depicting two vehicles and four people who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
All four men were wearing dark clothing with their faces covered.
Anyone with information which may assist investigators is urged to contact Granville police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence.
swim
THE NSW Government is partnering with Royal Life Saving NSW to highlight the importance of water safety for seniors this summer.
The Active Adults campaign encourages participation, with the low impact nature of aquatic exercise an ideal form of activity and recreation, but also urges older residents to take extra care.
See https://www.localnewsplus.com.au/seniors-drowning-increase-warning/
A MAN has been charged over his alleged involvement in an aggravated break-in at Lidcombe, where shots were fired.
Just before 10pm on Wednesday, July 19, police were told shots were fired at a home in Raymond Street West, Lidcombe.
Police will allege that three men, armed with firearms, forced their way into the property before they assaulted and threatened a 31-year-old man. All three men then fled the property a short time later.
The 31-year-old man was treated on scene by paramedics, while a 30-year-old woman, who was inside the property at the time, was not physically injured.
The investigation was part of Task Force Magnus, a proactive policing strategy established to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime, and to investigate links between recent organised criminal activity in Sydney, and following extensive inquiries, detectives raided homes at St Marys and Werrington about 8.45am yesterday (Thursday, August 17).
During a search of the properties, police allegedly located a rifle, ammunition, prohibited drugs, cash, drug paraphernalia, and electronic devices. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
A short time later, investigators arrested two men, aged 27 and 29, at a hotel in Scott Street, Liverpool.
The younger man was charged with fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, and special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence-weapon, and the older man was charged with hinder police in execution of duty.
Task Force Magnus is ongoing, anyone with information which may assist investigators is urged to come forward.
Anyone with information that may assist Task Force Magnus investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
quiet time
QUIET hour will be trialled at the Service NSW centre in Auburn to make it easier for customers with disability and those who prefer a quieter environment.
Held on Wednesdays, 11am-12pm, it will offer quieter and less stimulating environments, with the lights turned down, volume lowered for music and customer ticket announcements and customers requested to turn their phones to silent.
Staff will also complete additional disability awareness training to help provide customers with extra support during their visit.
“Service NSW is committed to fostering a community which is inclusive of all customers,” Service NSW CEO Damon Rees said.
THREE teenagers have been saved from a smoke-filled home in Lidcombe early Sunday morning.
Several Fire and Rescue crews rushed to the John Street address when the fire broke out just after 1am.
With the smoke alarm blaring, one fire crew tackled a small blaze in the downstairs business, while two others entered the smoke-filled home upstairs.
Wearing breathing apparatus and using torches to find their way, the firefighters went from room to room, looking for occupants.
When Firefighter Cem Dincer found a locked bedroom, he forced the door and found the two teenage girls and a boy, huddled by a bed.
Firefighter Dincer alerted other firefighters, as he guided the residents to a rescue ladder placed against an open window.
The teens, who had followed fire safety advice they received from a FRNSW visit to their school, were not seriously hurt.
Fire crews cleared the building, extracted the smoke and identified an e-bike, charging in a downstairs kitchen, as the source of the fire.
For the latest news, views, issues, people, events, sport and real estate, grab a copy of this week's Auburn Review or visit https://www.localnewsplus.com.au/review/
Police have seized more than 110 knives, 21 firearms and charged 232 people as part of a statewide crackdown on knife-related crime.
In one of the incidents, police stopped a vehicle on Chiswick Road in Auburn last Friday about 4.45pm and spoke to the 23-year-old driver. Following a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located 2.5kg of illicit tobacco and a large knife. The man was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, custody of knife in public place, convey tobacco products know of intent defraud revenue, and use light vehicle not comply with tyres standard.
Read the full story in the Auburn Review or at https://www.localnewsplus.com.au/police-operation-foils-knife-related-crime/
For the latest news, views, issues, people, events, sport and real estate, grab a copy of this week's Auburn Review or visit https://www.localnewsplus.com.au/review/
TWO men from Auburn and Berala have been charged as police continue to search a rural property in the state’s Central West for the body of a Malaysian National believed to have been murdered.
The State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Heighway last June to investigate a criminal syndicate involved in the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs, uncovering the disappearance and suspected murder of 24-year-old ‘Jacky’ Chong Kai Wong.
Last Friday strike force detectives raided a home in Berala, seizing cash, electronic devices and documentation, and charged a 33-year-old man with murder, conceal serious indictable offence of other, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, and cultivate prohibited plant – commercial quantity.
Further inquiries led police to execute two search warrants at homes at Marsfield and Auburn, and a crime scene warrant at a rural property in Killongbutta – about 40km north-west of Bathurst.
A 22-year-old Auburn man was charged with murder, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, cultivate prohibited plant – commercial quantity, cultivate cannabis – indictable quantity, and supply prohibited drug, while a 28-year-old man has been charged with conceal serious indictable offence (more than 20 years maximum) of other, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, cultivate prohibited plant – commercial quantity, cultivate cannabis – indictable quantity, supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug.
Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson, said police believe Jacky was involved with an organised criminal syndicate when he was violently murdered.
“We know Jacky was working for a criminal enterprise involved in the cultivation of cannabis in regional NSW around the time of his alleged murder,” Det Supt Watson said.
“The c
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have released vision as they appeal for public assistance into a kidnapping and stabbing in Merrylands earlier this year.
Just after 4pm on Saturday, September 18, a 24-year-old man was walking along Rickard Street, Merrylands, when he was approached by five men and physically assaulted. The man was then forced into the rear of a white Toyota Hiace parked nearby.
For the latest news, views, issues, people, events, sport and real estate, grab a copy of this week's Auburn Review or visit https://www.localnewsplus.com.au/review/
POLICE have seized the suspected getaway car used in a murder and charged 10 people as part of major ongoing operations targeting criminal networks in Sydney’s south-west.
Earlier this month, in response to public acts of violence, South West Metropolitan (SWM) Region initiated Strike Force Hawk, a high-visibility operation which deploys various strategies to prevent and disrupt serious and organised crime within the community.
The operation is being run in conjunction with the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad, which has been proactively targeting more than 300 identified members and associates of these criminal networks.
These operations are conducted in support of criminal investigations into murders, public place shootings, kidnappings, and other organised criminal activities, including the supply of prohibited drugs and illicit firearms.
So far during the operation, police have allegedly seized heroin, MDMA, gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL), cocaine, cannabis and ketamine with an estimated potential street value of $127,000, as well as more than $35,000 cash and numerous vehicles – including the Ford Mustang suspected to have been used by those involved in the murder of Salim and Toufik Hamze last Wednesday (October 20).
The Mustang was seized to undergo further forensic examination during a search warrant, which was executed at a Guildford unit about 3.45pm on Friday (October 22). Police also allegedly seized illicit drugs and other items of interest to ongoing investigations.
State Crime Command Director, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett, said the immediate response was structured around successful disruption methods employed by law enforcement against outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs).
“We know from experience how essential it is to formulate a multi-level response to these types of incidents in the immediate 72-hours which follow,” Det Ch Supt Bennett said.
“We immediately deployed around 150 detectives attached to State Crime Command and S
ANOTHER four people have been charged and a firearm allegedly seized as part of an investigation into a public place shooting at Merrylands and conspiracy to kidnap and murder another man.
On Tuesday, September 28, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad received information relating to a public place shooting outside a home on William Street, Merrylands, which occurred the night before.
Subsequent inquiries revealed the public place shooting allegedly formed part of a conspiracy to murder another man and involved several associates of the Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG).
So far during the investigation, eight men aged between 20 and 48 have been arrested over their alleged roles in the incident. They remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a property on the Great Western Highway at Parramatta, from 6am today (Wednesday, October 20).
During the search, police allegedly seized a loaded handgun, nearly $23,000 cash, 6L of liquid GBL (gamma butyrolactone) and an electronic stun device.
All items seized will undergo further forensic examination.
A 28-year-old Merrylands man was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company, possess unauthorised firearm (x2), steal motor vehicle, fire firearm at dwelling - house with disregard for safety, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm.
A 27-year-old Mt Druitt man was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
Police will allege in court that the men were involved in an aggravated break and enter at a unit at North Rocks and stole a vehicle later used in the public place shooting at Merrylands last month.
A 24-year-old Parramatta woman was charged with possess unauthori
