A man will appear before court today charged with allegedly setting fire to an Auburn tobacconist earlier this month.
About 4am Saturday 3 May 2025, emergency services were called to Mary Street, Auburn, following reports of a shopfront was alight.
Officers attached to Auburn Police Area Command arrived to find a tobacconist had been deliberately set on fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze; however, the shop had been significantly damaged.
No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.
Police established a crime scene and detectives attached to State Crime Command's Financial Crime Squad's Arson Unit commenced Strike Force Clydesdale to investigate the incident.
Following extensive investigations – including a public appeal for information – strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed a search warrant at a Greenacre home about 7.35am yesterday (Saturday 24 May 2025).
During a search of the home strike force detectives located a 19-year-old man after he attempted to flee from officers by jumping over a neighbouring fence.
The man was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with break and enter house destroy property less than $60,000.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 25 May 2025).
Investigations under Strike Force Clydesdale continue.
