The Mooroopna teens — two boys aged 15, a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy — successfully applied for bail in a children’s court.
The four are charged with aggravated burglary, three counts of theft, and four counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail.
The 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the charges while the others did not enter pleas.
A police officer told the court two of the teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, were at a Mooroopna housing estate searching unlocked cars on April 7.
The officer said the pair allegedly stole a handbag containing bank cards and about $280 from a car.
Police allege they tried to break into four other vehicles in the area.
The officer said the boys were allegedly joined by the girl and the other teenage boy.
The same two boys allegedly rummaged through two vehicles parked inside a garage in Mooredge Place, Mooroopna, while the others “stood guard”, the officer said.
Police allege a wallet and car keys were stolen from the cars.
The four teens were arrested by police who allege the 15-year-old boy accused of rummaging through the cars had car keys and a garage remote from a property on Westwood Dve, Mooroopna, in his possession.
The court heard the girl had a handbag containing stolen items including a purse, and ATM cards.
The officer said there was $290 in cash on the ground.
A later search of the area turned up more stolen ATM cards.
The prosecutor argued the teenagers posed a significant risk of re-offending if they were released on bail.
The court heard the 15-year-old boy allegedly involved in the first car theft was on bail for charges including several counts of theft, theft of car, theft from car and dangerous driving.
The boy’s solicitor argued he had no history of failing to appear at court and had an address to be bailed to.
The court heard the girl was on bail for car theft.
The police officer said since she was bailed, she had “contradicted bail every day since”.
The girl’s solicitor argued because of her young age, she would probably not receive a jail sentence if convicted.
He said his client had a “tough” existence, and had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.
The court heard the 15-year-old boy who allegedly acted as a ‘lookout’ during the aggravated burglary was on bail for car theft, wilful damage, theft from car, and theft.
His solicitor argued due to his young age, and lack of criminal history, his client did not pose a risk for bail.
The police officer told the court the 16-year-old boy was on several counts of bail for matters going back to early 2019.
The bail was for alleged offences including assault, recklessly causing injury, multiple thefts of vehicles — including some that were later involved in collisions — multiple thefts or attempted thefts from vehicles, careless driving, drink driving, and multiple thefts.
The magistrate bailed the teenagers to appear at a children’s court in May.
The magistrate who bailed the 16-year-old referred to him as “little one-person crime wave” but said she had grave concerns about remanding a child in custody.
All four must reside at an address provided to the court, abide by a curfew, not drive, and not contact the co-accused or witnesses.
The boys must also have regular contact with a youth justice worker, while the 16-year-old boy also has to report daily to police.
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