Bathurst police: Three in custody over alleged crime spree

The three men - aged 18, 23 and 24 - were arrested by police at different locations across Bathurst on Tuesday afternoon, all within 24 hours of the incidents.

Chifley Police District duty officer Chief Inspector Glenn Cogdell commended his officers on their outstanding work in bring the three men into custody.

Police resources from across the command were diverted to the investigation with detectives joined by other specialist police in investigating the crime scenes and making the arrests.

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Inspector Cogdell said all three men were arrested by 4.30pm Tuesday, and were now "assisting police with their inquiries".

It is understood in at least one of the arrests, a foot pursuit ensued with police giving chase and arresting one of the men.

One of the cars allegedly stolen in the crime spree, a white Toyota Corolla, was also recovered by police in Mooney Valley Place on Tuesday evening and has been taken for forensic examination.

Inspector Cogdell said police worked very closely with the community as the events unfolded on Monday night and Tuesday morning, with witnesses providing regular intelligence as to the location of the stolen vehicles.

"The support from the community was fantastic. We were getting calls left, right and centre, so I'd really like to thank the community for their ongoing assistance," he said.

The crime spree began at around 5.15pm on Monday when two men allegedly forced entry into a Tyndall Street home in Kelso, assaulting the occupant and the stealing keys to a black Mitsubishi Lancer, which was allegedly stolen.

Chifley Police District crime manager, Detective Chief Inspector Luke Rankin, said officers commenced a pursuit and have "determined the stolen Lancer was involved in a fail to pay event at Raglan's BP service station shortly after."

The second incident occurred around 8.45pm when the vehicle was involved in a collision with another car on Rankin Street.

Officers pursued the vehicle through the streets of Bathurst before ending the chase due to safety reasons.

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The vehicle was later found dumped in Ribbon Gum Place, Windradyne, around 10pm with a damaged tyre.

"We believe at least two offenders attempted to set the vehicle on fire after breaking into nearby cars to source a replacement tyre," Detective Chief Inspector Rankin said.

He said it was only for the quick reaction of police at the scene that the fire was extinguished before it completely took hold of the vehicle.

A third incident occurred nearby at 10.40pm where a woman found a man in her Bilmann Place residence, stealing keys to a white Toyota Corolla.

The Corolla was located in Mooney Place on Tuesday evening.