Eastwood boy, 14, charged with lighting fires on trains

ARRESTED AT his home on Thursday an Eastwood boy, 14, has been charged in relation to numerous arson attacks on trains.
The arrest follows an investigation as part of Operation Vision IV, described as an intelligence-driven, high-visibility operation which began in September to target anti-social and criminal behaviour on trains.

It is alleged that on September 13 and 18, and October 2, four young people lit paper they had gathered within the train carriages. On each occasion guards were alerted and the fires quickly extinguished, with a number of seats on the carriages sustaining damage.
Other passengers were present in the carriages at the time of each incident.

The 14-year-old was questioned at Ryde Police Station and subsequently charged with: three counts of endanger safety of person on railway; three counts of damage property by fire (arson); four counts of light fire in train/railway land; two other transport related offences.

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OFFICERS WERE forced to call for urgent back-up when between 60 and 80 partygoers turned on police after they were were called to an address in Cedarwood Drive, Cherrybrook where a party had spilled onto the roadway, leading to a number of physical altercations.

Initially a series of fights were broken up that had spiralled out of control at about 10.40pm on Saturday, but within moments, the group started to turn on police.

Additional units, including the dog squad, responded to the back-up call and order was quickly restored, with officers shutting down the party and moving gatecrashers on without further incident.

No-one was injured in the disturbance and no charges were laid.

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ON FRIDAY a man walked into the Subway Restaurant Victoria Road, Gladesville at about 8.05am and threatened staff. He stole cash and then ran from the store.

He is described as being of Islander appearance, average height, medium build, unshaven, and wearing a dark cap, dark jumper and pants, and carrying a backpack.

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A MAN, 30, who allegedly obtained $27,000 worth of goods and services by using credit cards in other people’s names, was arrested last week and taken to Ryde Police Station where he was charged with 15 counts of obtain benefit by deception.

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TWO MEN aged 18 and 19 were arrested after they damaged a number of buildings with graffiti and broke into business premises in the Ryde area last week.

Further investigation identified them as being responsible for a number of break enter and steal offences in premises in Victoria Road.

Both men were taken to Ryde Police Station where one was charged with eight counts of malicious damage and three counts of break enter and steal. The other man was charged with two counts of malicious damage and two counts of break enter and steal.

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A YOUTH, 17, was charged with domestic assault on Saturday after punching his girlfriend, also 17, in the head which caused her to fall at his house in Stevens Street, Pennant Hills.

The young man then stood over the victim and continued to punch and kick her to the face and body. He placed a knife to the victim’s throat and threatened to kill her and then put the knife to her stomach and a number of times threatened to kill her.

The victim was able to phone her mother and to ask for help. Police found the victim in an hysterical state. She was taken to Hornsby Hospital and treated for concussion, a broken nose and extensive swelling and bruising to her face and body.

The youth was arrested and taken to Hornsby Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His bail was refused and he appeared at Parramatta Children’s Court on Sunday and is still in custody because he could not meet the conditions of the bail set by the court. He is due to appear at Parramatta Children’s Court on Friday.

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AS A Central to Newcastle train arrived at Epping Railway Station at about 8.10pm on Sunday two men approached a 28-year-old male passenger who was using his laptop computer.

When the man looked up he was punched in the face by one of the offenders, the force of which broke his nose. After a brief struggle the men took the computer and a mobile phone before running out of the train onto the platform.

The victim gave chase for a short distance but could not stop the man who was in company with two others.

The victim went to the station master and police arrived. The victim was taken to Ryde Hospital for treatment. A search of the area with a dog squad officer failed to find the offenders.

The three men are described as being of Pacific Islander appearance. The first was in his late 20s, 183cm tall, thin build, dark coloured medium length hair wearing a red t-shirt and cream coloured shorts.

The second man was also in his late 20s, 173cm tall, solid build, dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt and black pants.
The third man was of medium build, wearing a white t-shirt and cargo shorts.

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