An elderly Tamworth couple were threatened with a machete during a motel break-in, one of a string of incidents police allege are linked across the city.
Officers from Oxley Police District are investigating after the incidents unfolded on the evening of Wednesday, 26 August and into the early hours of Thursday, 27 August.
Police allege three unknown males first attempted to break into a home on David Street, Tamworth, about 11.45pm on Wednesday, before being disturbed by a pet and leaving. Shortly after, the group, including one armed with a machete, allegedly attempted to steal from a motor vehicle on Diane Street, South Tamworth.
About 1am on Thursday, the group allegedly attempted a carjacking at the intersection of Brisbane and Peel Streets, in which a person was threatened. About 1.30am, the group, travelling in a stolen Hyundai SUV, allegedly attempted to break into several motels on Goonoo Goonoo Road before two males forced entry into one.
The pair, dressed in all black with face coverings, allegedly threatened a man and woman in their 70s with a large machete before stealing the keys to a second Hyundai SUV. Both males then fled the scene in the two stolen vehicles.
Police are also investigating a reported fuel theft from a service station on Jewry Street, Taminda, about 1.35am. Shortly after, the group allegedly arrived on Fitzroy Street, Tamworth, where they extensively damaged two parked police vehicles.
About 2am, police located one of the Hyundai SUVs on Green Street, West Tamworth. A pursuit was initiated and terminated shortly after for safety reasons. Police have established a crime scene at the motel and are investigating the incidents as linked.
One of the stolen Hyundai SUVs was later recovered on Matheson Street, West Tamworth, and seized for forensic examination.
Anyone with information about the incidents, including CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone vision, is urged to contact Tamworth Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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