THURSDAY JUNE 5: A teenage boy has been charged in relation to what police describe as “a spate” of armed robberies in the Richmond Police District.

Between Saturday May 24 and Tuesday this week, police say they’ve been investigating eight separate robbery and attempted robbery incidents around Lismore and Goonellabah which they believe were linked.

About 11.40am yesterday police arrested a 15-year-old in Phillip Street Goonellabah, and took him to Lismore Police Station where he was charged with 16 offences:

• Custody of knife in public place (five counts)
  
• Robbery armed with offensive weapon (four counts)
  
• Demand property by force with intent to steal
  
• Armed with intent to commit indictable offence
  
• Attempt robbery armed with offensive weapon
  
• Attempt aggravated assault with intent to take/drive motor vehicle
  
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others
  
• Dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception
  
• Breach of bail
  

He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court today, where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on July 11.

Man Appears in Casino Court Following Grafton Bottle Shop Hold-Up

A man faced court in Casino today following the alleged armed robbery of a bottle shop in Grafton yesterday.
Police say just before 1am yesterday, they were called to a shop on Bent Street following reports of a robbery.

Police were told a man entered the store, allegedly threatened two employees with a knife, and demanded cash.
He then left the scene with cash and a bottle of beer.
No physical injuries were sustained by the employees.

Several minutes later, police stopped a man walking along the Grafton Bridge. A subsequent search of the man allegedly revealed $1,630 in cash.
The 42-year-old was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station, where he was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon.
He was also charged with three counts of shoplifting, and an outstanding warrant was executed.

Shocking Crash Stats Revealed as Double Demerits Kick In

Police are urging motorcyclists in particular to drive safely this long weekend after four riders lost their lives and two teenagers were badly injured last weekend.

With many riders expected to take advantage of the King’s Birthday long weekend on regional roads, police are concerned that already 36 motorcyclists have died on NSW roads so far this year.

Double demerits begin at 12am Friday and finish at midnight on Monday.
Police from all specialist areas, police area commands, and police districts will support the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, with extended patrols across the North Coast and other regional parts of NSW.

There have been 157 lives lost this year, which is 14 more than this time last year. Two people were killed in NSW over the June long weekend in 2024.

So far in 2025, NSW Police have issued over 75,000 speeding tickets, conducted 1.5 million breath tests (with 5,351 people charged), and carried out 83,318 drug tests, with 5,179 returning positive results.

Perhaps the most worrying statistic: police have had to attend 16,741 serious motor vehicle crashes so far this year.

Police say anyone spotting dangerous driving can report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.