Meekatharra president Harvey Nichols fears town exodus after nurses were confronted in alleged home invasion

A Mid West shire president fears people will be forced to leave town if crimes such as the home invasion in which a nurse allegedly defended herself with a deodorant can. The Meekatharra nurse was reportedly forced to defend herself with the “flamethrower” — hairspray and a lighter — during the incident in the early hours of September 20. Police said a man and two teenagers broke into her home on Haveluck Close in Meekatharra. The WA Country Health Service confirmed a “violent break-in” had occurred at staff accommodation in Meekatharra. Meekatharra Shire president Harvey Nichols demanded urgent action amid fears vital workers would choose to leave the town if these sorts of violent crimes continued. “It took 45 minutes for police to arrive,” he said. Police denied the response time was 45 minutes but declined to confirm how long it took officers to get to the scene. According to police, the offenders allegedly made “threats of robbery” but they had no evidence of any attempted or threatened assault against the alleged victims. Police arrested a 20-year-old man and 16-year-old boy, while a 15-year-old assisted them with inquiries. Cr Nichols understood two nurses barricaded themselves in a room as the armed intruders “smashed their way into the home”, while the nurse defended herself with a lighter and hairspray. A WACHS spokesperson said the nurses flagged that they never had a flame thrower, and that they had picked up a deodorant can for protection. WACHS Mid West regional director Rachele Ferrari said security lighting and CCTV was in use and they would continue to work with WA Police to address safety in Meekatharra. A 20-year-old Meekatharra man has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle and is due to appear in Meekatharra Magistrates Court on October 26. The 16-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated armed robbery, aggravated home burglary, criminal damage, destruction of property and stealing a motor vehicle. He has been remanded in custody and will appear in Geraldton Children’s Court on October 4 after bail was refused. The 15-year-old boy assisting police has not been charged.