Ballina’s limited business-owned CCTV network has helped police track an alleged wanted man across the Northern Rivers, as the shire waits for a $1 million anti-crime system still months away.

Footage from a Ballina business captured the 33-year-old allegedly driving a vehicle with stolen number plates, providing a key lead for investigators.

Police allege South Grafton man James Carlson was recorded on March 29 while travelling through Ballina in the stolen vehicle.

The vision forms part of a broader trail linking incidents across Evans Head, Lawrence, Ballina and Mullumbimby.

Patchwork CCTV proving crucial

The case highlights how Ballina police continue to rely on privately owned cameras to track alleged offenders.

Service stations and larger businesses with high-quality surveillance systems are often critical in helping investigators reconstruct movements after crimes occur.

In this case, business CCTV helped place the vehicle in Ballina as part of a wider alleged offending spree.

Police allege a vehicle was stolen from Evans Head on March 12.

Number plates were then allegedly stolen from a vehicle in Lawrence on March 20 and attached to the stolen car.

A further set of plates was allegedly taken in Mullumbimby on March 31 and again fitted to the same vehicle.

ANPR cameras use infrared light to illuminate and can capture
licence plates at high speeds.

Major CCTV rollout still to come

The reliance on business cameras comes as Ballina Shire Council prepares to roll out its long-awaited CCTV network across Ballina and Lennox Head CBDs.

The $1 million project will include fixed cameras, pan-tilt-zoom units and automatic number plate recognition technology at key entry points.

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the system would be a significant boost for community safety.

“It will be a staged installation over the next 12 months, with possible extensions including Burns Point Ferry and other locations under consideration,” she said.

Until then, police are expected to continue depending on the existing patchwork of private surveillance.

Previous offender James Carlson who was captured driving an allegedly stolen vehicle on CCTV in Ballina

Arrest and charges

Carlson first appeared before Bail Division on April 2 following his March 31 arrest by Coffs/Clarence Police over matters spanning the Richmond and Tweed/Byron police districts. Bail was refused.

At the time of his arrest, police allege he was carrying two knives and was driving while disqualified until 2030.

He has been charged with seven offences, including driving while disqualified, unlawfully possessing number plates, taking a vehicle without consent, entering a vehicle without consent, and possessing knives in a public place.

Extensive court history

Carlson has an extensive Northern Rivers court history.

In Lismore District Court on August 16, 2022, a sentence appeal resulted in an aggregate term of two years, 11 months and 29 days for offences including vehicle theft, larceny and driving while disqualified.

He returned to Lismore Local Court on May 26, 2025, where he pleaded guilty to 12 offences and was jailed for three months and four days.

Court orders from that matter disqualified him from holding a driver licence until May 2030.

He is next due to appear before Grafton Local Court on May 18.