A weeks-long Ballina police search, tracked almost in real time by residents, ended with the arrest of a local man on Sunday.
The man has been charged over two alleged house break-ins, taking and driving a vehicle without permission, and possessing items suspected of being stolen.
James Lee Irwin, 29, had been actively sought by Ballina police, who directly confirmed to The Coast Report that officers were looking for him and urged people to report his location.
Ballina police search followed online
For weeks, Irwin’s name and image appeared regularly in the Ballina Crime Reports Facebook group.
Members shared claimed sightings, photographs and CCTV images while asking whether he had been caught.
Some said they passed information about his whereabouts to police.
With reported sightings emerging across Ballina, the search took on a cat-and-mouse feel for residents following it online.
Irwin faces court
Irwin represented himself when he appeared from custody by video link before Judge Alder in Bail Division Court on Sunday.
The Judge refused bail.
Irwin will appear by video link from custody at Ballina Local Court on Thursday.
More to come: Follow The Coast Report Facebook for latest updates on the four charges.