Canobolas police held a community safety precinct committee meeting with councils, government departments and community members in Molong on Thursday.

Crime manager Detective Inspector Bruce Grassick said car thefts in October to December last year were down on the same period in 2016, however police recognised the spike in burnt-out cars and recent arrests had made an impact.

“By all accounts over the last couple of weeks, that has died off,” he said. 

“We are receiving some, very spasmodically, but before we were getting quite a significant number so that’s a tick in relation to having that matter resolved.”

Detective Insp Grassick also said Rebels activity in Cowra and attempts by the Banditos to re-establish a chapter in Molong were acted on swiftly.

“There was an operation conducted in November covering Cowra, Molong and Orange in relation to all our Banditos members and Rebels members and that seems to have put a lid on it, we are still actively engaged with that,” he said. 

He said Operation Pedro ran in Lucknow and Molong to track the transport of drugs and stolen property on arterial roads.

Lachlan Local Area Commander Superintendent Chris Taylor attended, ahead of taking charge of the Central West police district when Lachlan and Canobolas merge next month. 

“It’s an important way we can get out message across to our communities about what we’re doing and they can pass on their concerns or compliments,” he said.