‘Interstate visitor’ arrested, charged over Junee break-in

AN INTERSTATE ‘visitor’ will spend the night behind bars, charged with breaking into a Junee service station after being refused travel on a midnight train.

The 49-year-old man was allegedly caught on security cameras, forcing his way into Junee’s Mobil service station on the corner of Seignior Street and Gaba Tepe Avenue about 2:40am.

Security footage viewed by The Junee Bulletin showed a dishevelled man in a suit smashing his way through a glass door before helping himself to the fridges inside.

“Officers attached to Riverina Police District were told a man had allegedly damaged a glass door, entered the premises before leaving with items from the business,” a NSW Police spokesperson said in a statement.

“A crime scene was established and an investigation commenced.”

Following inquiries and efforts to locate the offender, a 49-year-old man matching the suspect’s description was arrested outside a Junee business in Lorne Street about 9am, still dressed in the suit that was allegedly worn during the break-in.

The man was taken to Junee Police Station where he was charged with break and enter etc steal value less than or equal to $60,000.

Contrary to other media reports, a NSW Police spokesperson told The Junee Bulletin that the accused is neither local to Junee nor a resident of NSW.

The man was photographed asleep on a bench seat at Junee Railway Station about 1am on Saturday before reportedly being refused travel on the XPT about 2:30am, just 10 minutes before the break-in.

Residents have also recalled seeing the man loitering around local businesses on Friday afternoon, with many describing him as being “intoxicated” and “unable to be raised” from his sleep.

The man has been refused bail and a NSW Police spokesperson told The Junee Bulletin that he is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court via video link on Australia Day.