Operation Rhino: Seven Dubbo youths charged with traffic, property related offences

Seven youths, including a 13-year-old boy, have been charged with traffic and property-related offences over the weekend. See what they were charged with.

Seven youths in Dubbo have been charged for property and traffic related offences.

Seven central west youths, one as young as 13, have been charged with traffic and theft-related offences in Dubbo across the long weekend and will appear in court on Tuesday.

The boys, ranging in age from 13 to 17, were arrested and charged as part of Operation Rhino, established by Orana Mid-Western Police to target thefts across the Dubbo area.

The seven’s alleged rap sheet includes multiple charges of aggravated breaking and entering, stealing cars, not stopping during a police pursuit, and driving dangerously, among others.

The minors were all arrested and charged across Sunday and Tuesday, with the first pair over the weekend.

As part of Operation Rhino and following inquiries into reports of multiple thefts, a 13-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy were arrested.

Dubbo police station. Picture: Ryan Young

The pair were taken to Dubbo police station and charged with four counts of aggravated break and enter in company, two of stealing a motor vehicle, and aggravated break and enter with an intention to steal.

They were also charged with being carried in conveyance taken without consent of an owner, dishonestly obtaining property by deception and not stopping during a police pursuit while driving dangerously.

Following further inquiries, about 1.30pm on Monday, officers arrested two boys aged 15 and 17.

The 17-year-old was charged with six counts of aggravated break and enter in company, one with intention to steal, and stealing a car.

He was also charged with taking a conveyance without consent of the owner, dishonestly obtaining property by deception, not stopping during a police pursuit, three counts of predatory driving and three of using an offensive weapon in company to prevent detention.

Dubbo courthouse. Picture: Ryan Young

The 15-year-old was charged with similar offences, including four counts of aggravated break and enter a dwelling in company to steal, two counts of taking and driving a conveyance without consent of the owner, being carried in conveyance taken without consent of the owner.

He was also charged with dishonestly obtaining property by deception, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intending to steal, aggravated break and enter, goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen and a police pursuit.

About 2.45am on Monday, police attempted to stop three youths in a white SUV driver on Alcheringa St.

When it allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated – spikes were deployed as the driver was travelling from Dubbo to Narromine.

The boys allegedly fled the scene after the SUV came to a stop after entering a rail corridor on Victoria St.

Following a search of the area, three boys were arrested and taken to the station.

The 15-year-old boy was charged with stealing a motor vehicle, larceny value, possessing housebreaking implements, disguising himself with a mask to commit indictable offences and not stopping during a police pursuit.

The 16-year-old boy was charged with stealing a motor vehicle, larceny value, goods in personal custody suspected of being stole, possessing housebreaking implements and disguising himself with a mask to commit indictable offences.

The 17-year-old was charged with stealing a motor vehicle and larceny.

Five boys were also charged with breach of bail.

All seven boys were refused bail to appear at a children’s court later on Tuesday.

Inquiries under Operation Rhino continue.