Six Gold Coast teens arrested after alleged northern NSW crime spree

Six Gold Coast teenagers have been charged with a variety of offences after fleeing across the border following an alleged crime spree in northern NSW.

Six Gold Coast teenagers aged 13 to 15 are behind bars after a frightening alleged crime spree across northern NSW that ended with them being chased down by police dogs in Elanora.

The horror events began at about 9pm on Saturday when a group of males allegedly threatened three boys – two aged 15 and one aged 14 – in Buckingham Street, Pottsville, with a knife.

The three threatened boys ran to a nearby home and raised the alarm, while the group who threatened them left in a stolen vehicle.

NSW police allege the same group then drove to nearby Lennox Circuit, where one of them broke into a parked car and stole a wallet.

Officers from the Tweed/Byron Highway Patrol caught up with the vehicle about 9.25pm along Overall Drive.

“It will be alleged that the vehicle failed to stop when directed by officers and a pursuit was subsequently commenced,” a NSW Police Force spokesperson said.

Road spikes were deployed by NSW Police near the Tugun tunnel. Picture: Mikarla Marsden / Daily News

The stolen car took off down the M1 towards the Gold Coast, with road spikes deployed by police near the Tugun tunnel.

Queensland Police took over the pursuit after the car crossed the border, monitoring the group using the Polair helicopter, before they abandoned the car they were driving in Elanora.

Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles said the six teens were found by police including dog squad officers hiding a short distance away in bushland and behind a business premises.

“On Saturday night at about 9.30 we were contacted by our colleagues in NSW in relation to a vehicle that had allegedly been involved in an attempted armed robbery down there that had fled to Queensland. It had been impacted by tyre deflation devices prior to entering Queensland,” he said.

“Police located the vehicle abandoned in Elanora. Six juveniles were located by Queensland Police fleeing or attempting to flee. We had the dog squad and the police chopper involved in the location of those.”

It is understood some of the teens suffered minor injuries during the arrests.

A Queensland Police helicopter was used to help track the teens. Picture: David Clark.

Six teenagers have since been charged with a variety of offences including bringing stolen goods into Queensland and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The six charged are:

* A 14-year-old girl from Carrara.

* A 13-year-old boy from Coomera.

* A 14-year-old boy from Robina.

* A 13-year-old boy from Palm Beach

* A 13-year-old girl from Southport

* A 15-year-old boy from Tugun.

They were all remanded in custody and were expected to appear in court on Wednesday May 8.

The Bulletin understands a number of the juveniles were previously known to police on the Gold Coast, with some on bail at the time of the alleged offending.

NSW Police said the vehicle the group was travelling in was allegedly stolen from Banool Circuit in Ocean Shores on Thursday May 2.

“Investigations into the alleged offences committed at Pottsville are continuing,” a spokesperson said.

“Police are urging anyone with information about these matters – or who may have any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Tweed Heads Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

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