COOTAMUNDRA is not immune to crime related to the drug ‘ice’ - an issue that has ravaged communities across the state, according to Cootamundra Local Area Command Sergeant Matt Packham.
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“Unfortunately ice has pretty much infiltrated the whole community,” Sergeant Packham said.
Nine firearms were stolen from a Back Brawlin Road property last Friday, and police have located five of the guns and arrested three suspected culprits from Cootamundra.
Detective Senior Constable Mark Lake says “under the current climate it’s good to make the arrests, and get the stolen firearms off the streets and back to their rightful owners.”
Police allege the men arrested, including a 19-year-old male, a 24-year-old male and a 38-year-old male, stole the firearms to buy the illicit substance ice.
As the use and availability of ice is becoming more prevalent, Sergeant Packham says the wider community suffers.
“There is a flow-on effect from ice usage in terms of an increase in arrests for domestic violence, child abuse, break and enter, serious assault, armed robbery, and murder,” he said.
Police allege the 38-year-old suspect was under the influence of ice when he was arrested for four offences on Tuesday at 9pm including domestic violence, possession of an unauthorised firearm, not storing the firearm safely and goods possessed suspected of being stolen.
He was granted conditional bail, however, the man was taken back to the police station yesterday following another domestic violence-related incident.
On Wednesday police tracked down the 19-year-old and the 24-year-old men, arresting them for aggravated break enter and steal and possession of unauthorised firearms.
The 19-year-old appeared in Wagga Local Court yesterday, and is in police custody after being refused bail. The case is adjourned until Monday when he will reappear in Wagga Local Court.
The 24-year-old has been granted conditional bail and will appear in Cootamundra Local Court on January 5, 2015.
Sergeant Packham confirmed that local police use a variety of covert strategies as they conduct regular operations that target the supply and distribution of illicit drugs.
If you have any information regarding persons supplying ice within the community, or the four missing firearms please contact Cootamundra Police Station on on 6942 0099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, where information can be reported anonymously.
