Collie Police have charged a 40-year-old man after he allegedly punched a 16-year-old boy in the face last week.
Senior Sergeant Heath Soutar said the boy had been doing yard work at a property in Jones Street on the afternoon of Saturday, December 1 when he got into an argument with the homeowner about the cost of the work.
He said police would allege that during the argument the man punched the boy to the face, causing ‘bruising, swelling and other abrasions’.
The man was arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm before being released on bail.
Police also charged a 25-year-old Northam woman with firearms and drug offences after a traffic stop on the Coalfields Highway this week.
Senior Sergeant Soutar said police had pulled over the woman’s vehicle just before midnight on December 4, with a subsequent search revealing unlicensed ammunition and a small quantity of drugs.
Police are on the lookout after two firearms were stolen from a property in Jones Street sometime over the last three weeks.
Senior Sergeant Soutar said police had received a report that the two firearms had been taken from a gun safe sometime between November 15 and December 1.
He said although the firearms were properly secured in the safe, the offender was able to access the safe’s keys to steal the firearms.
“It’s very concerning that the two firearms are now out there in the community,” he said.
Senior Sergeant Soutar said police were also concerned with the number of suspiciously fires lit in bushland around Collie.
Two small fires were lit in bushland near Jacaranda Loop at approximately 10pm on November 28, although both were quickly extinguished.
He said police had also received reports of four fires lit in quick success in bushland north of Collie.
Senior Sergeant Soutar said anyone convicted of lighting fires in bushland could potentially be sentenced up to 20 years imprisonment.
Police are also looking for information about a number of thefts around town. A Stockman ride-on lawn mower worth approximately $4000 was stolen from a backyard in Coombes Street on November 29, while a whipper snipper and garden tools were stolen from a driveway in Johnston Street on December 3.
An offender also gained entry to the yard at Henderson Hardware, where a battery and a speaker were stolen from a vehicle on November 29.
Senior Sergeant Soutar said police were reviewing CCTV footage to identify the culprit.
Anyone with information can contact Collie Police on 9734 6333.