news, local-news

ORANGE police are looking for two men who shot at a Springside farmer yesterday morning when he caught them illegally hunting on his property. The 43-year-old landowner was bailed up at gunpoint and ordered to drop his mobile phone which he was using to take a photograph of the offenders’ number plate. One of the gunmen smashed the phone and fired a warning shot at the man’s feet. The farmer had challenged the men after he found them on his property hunting kangaroos. Canobolas Local Area Command Inspector Dave Harvey said the two men were less than four metres away from the farmer when they shot at him. A command post was set up at Springside shortly before 10am where five police, detectives and the forensics special group combed through bushland in the Canobolas State Forest for two hours looking for the men. One of the men was wearing a grey top and black tracksuit pants. He is described as Caucasian, about 180cm tall, thin build with short dark hair and is between 17 and 24 years old. They were driving a white Subaru Outback. Inspector Dave Harvey said the property owner was uninjured but badly shaken by the incident. “It’s out of the ordinary and police are very keen to speak to any of the men who were there,” Inspector Harvey said. “All resources have been made available to investigate the matter. “Police consider the incident to be very serious.” Anyone with information is urged to call Orange police on 63636399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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