Officers from the Central North Police District have charged a man following an investigation into a string of alleged offences in the Nyngan and Cobar areas.

Strike Force Schwinghammer was formed in January 2023 by the Bourke Rural Crime Prevention Team to investigate increased rural crime related offences.

Following inquiries, Strike Force Schwinghammer police arrested a 27-year-old man in Nyngan about 3pm yesterday (Wednesday 22 February 2023).

A search warrant was executed at the home, where a large amount of suspected stolen property was located, consisting of power tools, ammunition, hunting equipment, a prohibited firearm, and prohibited drugs.

The man was taken to Nyngan Police Station and charged with 29 offences, including:

• Seven counts of enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence

• Four counts of larceny value less than or equal to $2000

• Two counts of break & enter house etc steal value less than or equal to $60,000

• Two counts of damage property by fire/explosion

One of the items found at the property.

• Destroy or damage property

• Break & Enter house etc steal value greater than $60,000

• Aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company intend steal less than or equal to $60,000

• Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority

• Fire firearm at other than dwelling disregarding safety

• Possess unregistered firearm-pistol

• Supply unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm

• Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity

• Larceny value greater than $5,000 & less than or equal to $15,000

Illicit drugs were found at the premises in Nyngan where a man was charged.

• Goods suspected stolen in/on premises

• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen

• Possess prohibited drug

• Supply prohibited drug less than or equal to small quantity

• Police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly

Police advise at this stage there is no apparent link between this arrest and the suspicious death of a man on a rural property outside Nyngan on 25 January.

The death of 59-year-old Joel Carter is still under separate investigation by Strike Force Namadgi.

He was refused bail to appear before Dubbo Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 February 2023), where he was formally refused bail to reappear before the same court on Thursday 20 April 2023.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.