Roma Police: 15-year-old boy in custody charged with 9 break-in-related offences

A 15-year-old boy was remanded in police custody on 9 charges after he allegedly stole a car, evaded police and caused destruction to a school. His arrest brings the total number of charges laid on Roma children in the past week to 50, following a spate of offending.

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Roma police have charged five boys with nearly 50 charges, with the latest alleged offender remanded in custody until early next month.

A 15-year-old boy was charged him with 10 offences after he allegedly stole a car from a charity before ditching it at the Big Rig, evading police and damaging computers and desks at Roma State School.

The boy was charged with three counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence, and one count of each receiving tainted property, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evade police, unlicensed driving, enter with the intent to commit indictable offence and wilful damage.

He fronted the Roma Children's Court on Monday and was remanded in custody until September 6.

Roma officer in charge Duane Frank said the boy allegedly stole a car from Blue Care and evaded police when officers attempted to intercept him on August 4 on Spencer Street.

Sergeant Frank said a “considerable” amount of destruction was done at the school with computers, desks, books and chairs broken.

The boy was also charged for a range of break and enters across Roma from the past two months.

He will front court again on September 6.

This follows after three boys, aged 12, 13 and 14 were charged with 28 offences last week and released on bail.

The 12-year-old boy was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, four counts of break and enter and one count each of wilful damage and unlicensed driving.

The 13-year-old was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three counts of break and enter, two counts of unlicensed driving and one count of wilful damage.

And the 14-year-old boy was charged with the most offences, including three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts each of break and enter, enter premises with intent, and unlicensed driving, and one each wilful damage and graffiti.

And a 17-year-old boy fronted the Roma Children’s Court charged with 10 offences after allegedly stealing close to $100,000 worth of jewellery from a Toowoomba home, and luxury cars.

Sergeant Frank urged the community to stay vigilant and lock house doors and cars.

“Modern cars just require the keys to start, so people need to remember to also hide their keys to prevent their cars being stolen,” he said.