Operation Mongoose North began on February 29 in response to an increase in crime in Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

There has been a growing community concern that this latest wave of house break & enter's and car thefts is out of control which has led to community meetings in Goonellabah and Ballina.

During the last 5 weeks, police have made a number of arrests in relation to Mongoose. The Lismore App caught up with Superintendent of the Richmond Police District Scott Tanner about the success of the operation so far. Which was apt considering police arrested a 21-year-old at 7:30 on Tuesday night on four outstanding warrants related to serious property offences and personal violence offences as a target of Operation Mongoose.

"Police identified 34 offenders that matched, what we call the modus operandi, which is a Latin term for method of operation. This just means that 34 offenders identified matched the description of the offending behaviour, which is breaking in the home stealing cars and getting into pursuits with police. "

"Since the first of January 22 persons have been charged with 124 offences, which relate to regional Mongoose target type behaviour and they were for offences ranging from aggravated break and enter, carry and conveyance, stolen motor vehicle, resist police, participate in criminal group and also some robbery offences."

Superintendent (Supt) Tanner said it was still too early to tell if this relates to a decrease in crime.

"Certainly last month was a very high month for crime but we are starting to see a slight reduction in the first week of April that's for sure."

"It's really an ongoing thing because it involves cross-border offending as well. Like the offenders from Tweed/Byron, Richmond/Coffs Clarence and the mid-north coast, we're getting offenders from Kempsey coming up this way, committing a crime and our offenders are going from here to the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads committing crime as well. It's very transient."

As expected the ages of the majority of offenders tend to be under 18 and a number are repeat offenders.

"61% are age 17 and under, with 15-year-olds the main age. 24% of all offenders being 15 years of age."

"Out of those, there are 34 recidivists, what we call recidivist offenders, that's somebody who has offended whilst on bail. Which is quite large, so all 34 offenders matched under regional Mongoose North are recidivous offenders."

These statistics are what causes many in the community to pose the question of why police are letting repeat young offenders go and why current NSW legislation is so soft on youth crime. The latest legislation change has made it harder for repeat offenders to get bail which is at the judge's discretion.

"I guess the only comments I'll make around that is that police are bound by all legislation and anything that can help to protect victims is always a welcome addition."

Under current legislation, any offender under the age of 14 cannot have their fingerprints taken so police have no way of knowing how many crimes that person has committed prior to turning 14. The youngest person arrested through Operation Mongoose is 11.

"This is a really interesting fact that one of the young offenders who's now just turned 14 has come up on over 30 offences over the last two-year period," Supt Tanner stated.

"I guess that's the challenge for police. Because of the age of the offenders being able to gather the evidence unless they're caught in the action or there's some very strong direct evidence, using traditional methods of DNA and fingerprints becomes problematic because we can't use that until they hit the age of 14."

"We have a strong emphasis on diversion. We lead the state in diversionary options. So, instead of someone going to court, they'll be referred for a youth caution or a youth justice conference."

"They're entitled to three cautions, but there are certain offences that don't fall under that such as if it's a domestic violence offence or a sexual offence or if it's a drug-related offence, they're not eligible under the Young Offenders act, so they'll go straight to court."

"This doesn't apply to property crime except for the more serious aggravated break-ins."

Supt Tanner said the days of living in a country town where you can leave your doors and windows open when you go out or during the night are gone.

"It's just the reality of it. People have to make it as hard as you can for these offenders."

"I think it was about 13% of our stolen cars, the keys were in the vehicle. So, the normal safety tips, like make sure everything's locked up. Lock your garage, lock your windows, lock your doors, lock your vehicles. Don't put your vehicle keys in a place that's prominent inside your house."

Unfortunately, the change of season doesn't change offending habits near the coast as the winters are mild unlike out west where the am temperatures reach zero or minus regularly.

The short advice is to stay vigilant and lock up.