Financial Crimes Squad detectives have charged a man for his alleged role in setting fire to a tobacco shop at Charmhaven earlier this year.
At about 2.15am on Thursday, August 22, emergency services were called to Rick’s Tobacconist and Gift Shop in the Pacific Hwy retail centre at Charmhaven following reports of a fire.
They found a vehicle had rammed into the shop and then set it alight, extensively damaging the tobacco shop as well as the hairdressing salon and bicycle shop on either side.
Tuggerah Lakes Police established a crime scene and detectives attached to the State Crime Command Financial Crimes Squad Arson Unit commenced Strike Force Libourne to investigate the incident.
During the investigation, strike force detectives located CCTV vision of two men allegedly setting fire to the shop – with one male managing to set himself alight during the incident – before leaving the scene in a sport utility vehicle (SUV).
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested an 18-year-old man at a Silverwater correctional facility on Tuesday, November 5.
He was charged with the offence of destroy property in company use fire more than $5,000.
He was refused bail to appear before Wyong Local Court.
Investigations under Strike Force Libourne are continuing.