Dubbo youth crime: Police, locals share horror stories of break ins, theft

Children as young as 10 are being charged multiple times for youth crime related offences in the state’s central west – as terrified families say they face home invasions on a monthly basis.

A ten-year-old boy in the state’s central west has been charged on 17 different occasions in relation to youth crime – as frustrated local police say the level of vacancies are hampering their ability to tackle a growing scourge of kid gangs from dusk to dawn.

Police Association of NSW president Kevin Morton said the boy was released from custody every time he was charged, “up until his most recent matter when bail was finally refused”.

“Our police are currently dealing with a group of young people who sadly continue to reoffend and terrify locals,” Mr Morton said.

Police Association of NSW President Kevin Morton. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mr Morton said the “revolving door of the court system” needed to be addressed.

Officers told The Daily Telegraph the Orana-Mid Western Police District was struggling to cope with growing crime rates – including an increasing number of incidents relating to youth crime – citing “inflated” vacancies and long-term health related leave.

“Police can’t keep up with the sheer amount of criminal activity across the district,” one officer said. “The district is short-staffed, we have a high number of vacancies and a significant number of officers on health leave.

Dubbo youths in the front yard of a home. Photo: Facebook

“Even if we could impose a youth curfew, we wouldn’t have enough boots on the ground to deal with the number of call-outs we get everyday.

‘The number of officers rostered on overnight hasn’t really changed in several years, despite our growing overnight youth crime issue – we are at breaking point.”

Another former officer argued NSW Police advocated for youth programs, rather than a strict curfew to stamp out criminal behaviour, because of the “huge” grant funding associated with the initiatives.

“The department’s response to growing vacancy rates across the boards is introducing four new probationary constables.”

Dubbo youths caught on camera patrolling through the night. Photo: Facebook

Mr Morton said police recruitment and retention “remains a significant issue”.

“The PANSW will continue to work with the NSWPF and Government to find solutions through training, improved wages and entitlements to attract and retain our officers.”

The calls to keep youth offenders in custody after repeated offences comes as Dubbo residents revealed the constant threat youth crime poses across the central west.

“My house was broken into, property stolen, car stolen and destroyed after being taken for a joy ride – $30,000 in damages that I’ll never see again,” one resident said.

Another Dubbo resident said home security cameras alerted him to a teenager attempting to break into his car and house earlier this month.

“This isn’t an uncommon issue for us,” he said.

The man said he scared the teen off before he accessed the house, before calling the police.

“Police swing by about 20 minutes later and as they pull up out the front of our house they startle two young teenagers in our yard,” he said.

A teen is pictured outside a Dubbo resident’s home. Photo: Facebook

“The police put handcuffs on them and began questioning what they were doing – they were uncooperative and seemed to know the system – telling the police they couldn’t be arrested as they were too young.

“A quick search from the police found them to be carrying meth, tools to break into houses and a large knife.”

The man said just two nights later a car was stolen at knifepoint.

“We’ve lived in Dubbo for 2 years now and we average a break in every six to eight weeks.”

A NSW Police spokeswoman said the department would “continue to work towards meeting the expectations of the local community to increase their safety and will continue to engage the community of Dubbo to identify and address concerns that may exist or arise from time to time in the township”.

“Dubbo Police Station operates on a 24/7 basis and provides a consistent and well-resourced complement of local officers to ensure the community has the best possible policing response and is equipped to meet local needs,” she said.

Corporate Sponsor for Rural Crime, Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree

“Western Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree has been appointed Corporate Sponsor for Youth.

“Mr Greentree will be focusing on education and employment as key priorities, working with partner agencies.

Meanwhile, Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she “shares community concerns about anti-social and criminal behaviour and supports the range of actions and interventions Police and government agencies are taking to keep people safe”.