Operation Mandrake officers arrest several teenagers over alleged crime spree in eastern and western suburbs

The arrests come after reports of a series of linked crimes across Adelaide’s eastern and western suburbs over the past month.

Police have arrested a number of teenagers over an alleged December crime spree across Adelaide.

Officers from Operation Mandrake, a task force established in 2003 to investigate Indigenous youth crime, STAR Group officers and local patrols arrested the teenagers after reports of trespassing, theft and motor vehicle offences in the eastern and western suburbs.

Police said the offences involved a group of youths wandering the streets checking if house and car doors were locked.

Several cars were stolen and taken for joy rides, while keys and wallets were targeted in the thefts.

On December 11, police arrested a 17-year-old Port Lincoln boy and charged him with aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft offences.

He was refused bail to face the Adelaide Youth Court on January 18.

Three days later, police arrested a 17-year-old Port Lincoln boy and a 15-year-old Parafield Gardens boy and charged them with aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft offences.

They were both refused bail to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on January 12.

On December 16, a 15-year-old Mile End boy was arrested and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft offences.

He was bailed but arrested again on Boxing Day before being refused bail to face the Adelaide Youth Court on January 15.

A 15-year-old Devon Park boy, a 17-year-old Mile End boy and a 16-year-old Albert Park boy were also arrested on Boxing Day.

The Devon Park boy and Mile End boy were both charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft offences and refused to face the Adelaide Youth Court on January 24.

The Albert Park boy was charged with three counts of breaching bail and bailed to face the Port Lincoln Youth Court on January 10.

The day after a violent home invasion attack on prominent Adelaide doctor Michael Yung, Major Crime Investigations Branch officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said police were investigating links to a “crime series” in the eastern and western suburbs.

Areas investigated included Gilberton, Walkerville and Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north-east, as well as beachside suburbs Henley Beach, Fulham and Tennyson in Adelaide’s west.

Police later said none of the incidents were linked to Dr Yung’s murder.

Police urged anyone with information about Operation Mandrake’s investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.