Operation Regional Mongoose: Dubbo and Walgett teen boys charged with traffic and break in offences

A police operation focused on serious property offences committed by predominately teenagers have arrested 102 people since the end of September. Here’s the latest.

The 17-year-old boy who was arrested was on bail. Picture: Ryan Young

Police have charged more than 100 people - the majority of those being children - for serious property crime since September in the state’s west.

The latest arrests occurred when Orana Mid-Western police district officers were patrolling Dubbo and saw two people without helmets on a motorcycle.

Following inquiries, the motorcycle was found abandoned on Allison St.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested a short time later on Wirraway St and taken to Dubbo police station.

The teenager has been charged with disguising his face with an intention to commit an indictable offence, two counts of driving a vehicle when never being licensed and two counts of driving recklessly during a police pursuit. He was also charged with stealing the vehicle and breaching bail.

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested with a list of string of traffic charges. Picture: Ryan Young

The youth was refused bail and appeared at a children’s court, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on February 19, 2024.

Operation Regional Mongoose was established on September 27, and has resulted in 102 arrests, including 74 children, charged with more than 609 offences.

He has been refused bail. Picture: Ryan Young

Other incidents including Central North police district officers commencing an investigation into a number of property-related offences in the Walgett area.

Following inquiries, police executed two search warrants just after 8am on Monday, December 11.

Two boys, aged 14 and 15, were arrested and taken to Walgett police station.

The older boy was charged with stealing a vehicle, driving recklessly during a police pursuit, two counts of disguising his face, three counts of aggravated break and entering and failing to comply digital evidence.

Two Walgett boys have been charged after alleged break ins. Pics Bill Hearne

He was refused bail and appeared at a children’s court the same day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on February 13.

The younger boy was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence while armed, disguising his face, aggravated break and enter in company to steal and being carried in a stolen vehicle.

He appeared at a children’s court on December 12, where he was given conditional bail to reappear at the same court on February 13.

Investigations under Operation Regional Mongoose continue.