Three-day crackdown nets 11 people on 43 charges

A MAJOR three-day police operation targeting crime and anti-social behaviour in Wagga has netted almost a dozen people on more than 40 charges.

The high-visibility operation ran from Thursday June 11 to Saturday June 13 and involved officers from the Riverina Police District with support from the Aviation Command, Police Transport Command, the Region Enforcement Squad, Dog Unit, and Highway Patrol.

Police said the crackdown was in response to a raft of community complaints around shoplifting, drug use, trail bike nuisance and general disorder in the city centre.

The CBD was patrolled heavily during the operation, with thirteen court attendance notices issued for shoplifting and eight people charged with possessing prohibited drugs.

One person was allegedly found in possession of a knife.

Officers also recovered a stolen vehicle and seized an unregistered trail bike after it was allegedly detected being ridden on a public road.

Image: NSW Police

The rider, a 19-year-old man, was charged with driving while suspended (second or subsequent offence) and driving in a dangerous manner (second or subsequent offence).

A 29-year-old man was charged with multiple offences following an alleged police pursuit in Wagga on Friday night, June 12, while a 31-year-old man faces a long list of charges including multiple counts of driving while disqualified (second or subsequent offence).

A 24-year-old woman was also arrested during the operation and charged with property damage, larceny, entering enclosed land, driving while licence cancelled (second or subsequent offence), and other traffic offences.

Police say the crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt repeat offenders and improve safety across the Riverina.