A new strike force has helped Orange police arrest and charge three people over torched cars.
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They’re the first results from Canobolas Local Area Command’s Strike Force Yiddah which is targeting the scourge of stolen and torched cars.
Crime manager Detective Inspector Bruce Grassick said Strike Force Yiddah was formed to target people responsible for the theft and torching of Ford Couriers and Mazda Bravos.
However, it has since grown to target all stolen and torched cars.
Earlier this year five people were arrested and charged by police.
At 10.26pm on Sunday, firefighters were called to a torched car on Bloomfield Road while an uninsured Mazda Bravo B2500 was stolen and destroyed by fire at Berrilee Road last Thursday at 12.20am.
“We will continue to work on these issues until they are resolved in our community,” Detective Inspector Grassick said.
While police have arrested and charged offenders, Detective Inspector Grassick said there was plenty the community could do to help out.
“Cars are still being left unlocked and there are still cars being left unlocked with keys in them,” he said.
“One car was left running in a driveway unattended for a number of hours.
“It appears these people aren’t targeting particular vehicles, they’re targeting any vehicle which runs.”
Detective Inspector Grassick said police believe there are multiple groups of people responsible.
“We’re having instances where abandoned cars are torched,” he said.
“Cars can be abandoned because of mechanical issues and one has been torched in 30 minutes.”
Detective Inspector Grassick said people can help police out with information such as car registration plates and descriptions.
It could include situations where people see suspicious behaviour on their road or near state forests or reserves.
He said while it might seem trivial to residents to report suspicious actions by people and their car registration it could be critical to a police investigation.
People with information can contact Orange police on 6363 6399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.