Warwick boys, 15, charged over brazen series of thefts, break-in

Police will allege the teenagers are behind a string of thefts and break-ins reported within the past week, including committing a fuel drive-off in a car they had stolen the night before. FULL DETAILS:

Two Warwick teenagers have been charged over a string of brazen thefts and a break-in reported during the past week, including an alleged fuel drive-off in a car they had stolen the previous night.

Police allege the two boys, both aged 15, first struck when they made off with an electric scooter parked out the front of WIRAC at about 1.30pm last Monday.

Warwick police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater said the boys were also believed to be responsible for a break-in at a Briggs St home overnight on Tuesday, alleging the pair took the keys to a Mazda station wagon and fled in the vehicle.

He said the teenagers then allegedly fuelled up the stolen car at the Ampol service station on Wednesday and drove away without paying for the petrol.

The Warwick boys were both taken into custody on Sunday, with the pair each facing two charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one of stealing.

One of the 15-year-olds is also charged with entering a premises to commit an indictable offence.

The pair were released on police bail and are due to appear in Warwick Children’s Court on Tuesday.

The charges come after yet another Warwick business fell victim to thieves over the weekend, making it the fifth to be targeted in the past several days.

Offenders broke into Optimise Health on Wood St some time between 4.40pm Friday and 7am Monday, ransacking cupboards and stealing a cash tin from the premises before fleeing the scene.

Sergeant Slater said it was possible the thieves used a manhole or other unusual method of entry, as employees found all doors and windows were still locked despite the obvious disturbance that had taken place.

“The wheelie bin at the back of the building had been moved, and (staff) have suggested it may have been the manhole,” he said.

Sergeant Slater said it did not appear anything else had been stolen from the business.

It is unconfirmed whether any of the incidents are related at this stage, with all investigations ongoing.

Sergeant Slater said drug driving was again the most common offence reported over the weekend as another four residents were charged, three in the one day.

A 21-year-old Toowoomba woman was the first to be nabbed by police, allegedly testing positive to an illicit drug in her system while driving on Victoria St on Saturday.

Warwick police then charged a 44-year-old Warwick woman, a 31-year-old Nundah man, and a 22-year-old Mt Tabor woman with the same offence between 9am and 4pm Sunday.

All four people are due to appear in Warwick Magistrates Court in August.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Warwick police on 4660 4444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.