On the Beat

Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 43-year-old woman whose body was found in her Byron Bay home on Monday. Whilst police are awaiting the results of a post mortem, it is believed the woman was stabbed in the upper body several times with a knife or other sharp implement. The body was found by her 17-year-old daughter at their Shirley Lane house around 1.30pm. Officers from Strike Force Coolidge are now conducting a canvass of the area and speaking to local people.

Police have appealed to any member of the public who might have information to phone Byron Bay Police on 6685 9499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A 36-year-old Lismore woman was killed after her car and a four-wheel drive collided head-on near Clunes on Friday night.

Leesa Jane McGrath was driving west along Bangalow Road about 6.35pm when her car collided with the Holden Jackaroo. The occupants of the 4WD, a man aged 39, a woman aged 38, a boy aged 13 and two girls aged 11 and five, all suffered minor injuries.

The road was closed for several hours following the crash. Police are preparing a report for the Coroner.

A 15-year-old youth was attacked while he walked two young women home from a party at Lennox Head on Friday night. Two young men known to the victim approached the youth just after 9.40pm and assaulted him, ramming his head against a brick wall. The attackers fled and the victim was helped back to the party where he was treated by a parent. The assault wasn't reported to Police until Saturday afternoon.

Enquiries are continuing.

A BMX was stolen from a front yard in Moon Street, Ballina, between 11pm on Saturday and 5.30am on Sunday. Another BMX bike, valued at $300, was stolen from the verandah of a unit in Camden Avenue, Ballina, between 8pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday.

Any information to Ballina Police on 6681 8699.

A 47-year-old Lennox Head woman was alerted to an intruder in her Fieldcrest Drive house on Monday night by her cat. The woman was ironing in the lounge room at about 9.50pm when the frightened cat ran past. She investigated and saw a tall man of Aboriginal appearance wearing a beanie in the bedroom. She yelled at the man, who fled along with another, shorter man, to a vehicle, described as having square lights, parked in the street. It was last seen heading in a westerly direction. Any information to Ballina Police on 6681 8699.

Thieves broke into a house in Hare Street, Casino, on Monday, stealing a car, CD, stereo and DVDs. The break-in occurred between 8am and 2.05pm, and used a key found in the kitchen to steal a 1996 red Honda Accord sedan from the garage. The car contained photography equipment, including four cameras, computer ware, scanner, printer and tripod.

A 1992 red and blue Honda QR50 mini-bike was stolen from an open garage in Goonellabah, some time between 3pm Saturday and 8am Monday. The bike has since been sighted being ridden by young males around the Sherman Drive area. Any information to Lismore Police on 6623 1599.

Thieves stole a 1996 blue Toyota sedan, registration NSW UCK-890, from a house in Clarice Street, Lismore, on Tuesday afternoon. Also stolen was a Playstation 2 and associated games. Police say that if the vehicle is sighted, witnesses are asked not to approach it. Phone Police immediately on 6623 1599.

A 19-year-old man will appear in Lismore Court on September 27 charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an altercation in Nimbin on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred after the teenager allegedly approached a 27-year-old Nimbin woman who was shopping in Cullen Street and abused her. She told her 32-year-old boyfriend, who approached the younger male who was standing with a group in Rainbow Lane, Nimbin. The youth assaulted the older man, causing serious injury that required hospitalisation.

Ballina Police are reminding residents to lock up after thieves stole an 81-year-old woman's handbag from her Ross Street home between 4 and 6pm on Tuesday. They gained access through a closed but unlocked door. The bag contained cash and personal effects. Information to Ballina Police on 6681 8699.

A Nimbin man faced Lismore Local Court on Wednesday charged over an incident in Nimbin on Friday. Police were called to the Nimbin Hotel about 2.30pm following reports that a man had allegedly threatened staff and patrons with a broadsword before smashing a glass panel in the hotel's front door before leaving.