Two men have been charged with several robbery and arson offences following a four-month investigation in the Hunter Valley.

In October 2021, rural crime investigators attached to the Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Carribee to investigate a number of felonies, which occurred in the Singleton and surrounding areas.

Incidents of note included:

• On Thursday 2 September, two computer terminals were allegedly damaged by rocks in Glennies Creek, before a structure on Middle Falbrook Road, two hay bales and two residential garbage bins were all destroyed by fire;
• On Friday 17 September, three firearms were stolen from a rural property at Putty Road, Milbrodale;
• On Saturday 25 December, a tractor was located burnt out in a paddock on Tilpa-Tonga Road, Tilpa;
• On Wednesday 19 January, machinery and other equipment was stolen from a work site on Goorangoola Road, Goorangoola. An excavator and diesel petrol were also stolen from the same site on Saturday 29 January;
• On 3 February, two firearms were stolen from a rural property on Old Carrowbrook Road, Mount Olive; and
• Just before midnight on Wednesday 16 February, two armed men entered a service station on Bridgman Road, Dunolly, and allegedly threatened a female attendant. The employee handed over a sum of cash before both men ran from the store.

Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives attended a workplace in Muswellbrook about 9am on Sunday 20 February and arrested a 19-year-old man.

Officers also seized a white Toyota Hilux for forensic examination.

A second 19-year-old man attended Singleton Police Station a short time later, where he was arrested.

Hunter Valley police – with the assistance of Hunter Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Operation Utah officers – then executed two search warrants at properties in Bridgman and Muswellbrook, where a machete and other items were seized.

Following further inquiries, officers attended an area of bushland in Bridgman where they located and seized five firearms hidden in PVC piping.

Both men were charged with several offences, including robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon, destroy property in company by fire, malicious damage, break, enter and steal, trespass, larceny and possess unauthorised firearm.

They were refused bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 21 February, where they were formally refused bail to next appear at Singleton Local Court on Thursday 28 April.

Investigations under Strike Force Carribee are continuing.

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